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The Punjab Assembly approved the provincial budget with majority votes for current fiscal year 2018-19 in the absence of opposition during its session on Thursday. The House approved a total of 43 demands for grants for different sectors.
The opposition submitted cut motions on police, health, agriculture, education, housing and physical planning. Since the PML-N did not attend the budgetary sessions in protest against the suspension of its six MPAs, no resolutions for budget cuts from their side could be tabled. As a result, the budget and the finance bill, which could have otherwise taken days to get approved, were approved within minutes.
Speaking in the House after the passage of budget, Chief Minister Sardar Uman Buzdar said that a new era of progress will usher in as huge resources have been allocated for the annual development program. "This is the first budget of Punjab's history that has been accepted by all," the Chief Minister said in his speech. "This is an honour for me and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf."
"We will not do any illegal work nor stop any legal work. We will work in all districts with the consultation of all members of this assembly," he promised. The CM also said that "a pre-budget discussion will be held before the next budget" and that "the next budget will be devised after consulting the MPAs."
The CM said that cabinet meetings will be held in all the districts and divisions of Punjab, adding that first meeting will be held in South Punjab.
During the session, the cabinet members were apprised of the salient features of the provincial budget and annual development schemes envisioned for the province, for which cabinet members had presented their viewpoints in return.
However, all the important session had been marred by the PML-N led opposition's rowdyism with members of the treasury and opposition coming to blows during Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Bakht's speech.
Speaker Ch Pervez Elahi congratulated PM Imran Khan on his successful visit of Saudi Arabia. He also appreciated Imran Khan for giving subsidy to farmers on electricity. He said Imran Khan wants to bring misguided people on the right path.
For the first time in the history of Punjab, the PM has made a common man chief minister of Punjab. He expressed full confidence in CM Punjab. He said Punjab is the battlefield and if the government of Punjab works smoothly then Imran Khan will be able to deliver in the federal government. Later, the House was prorogued.
Earlier, speaking to media outside the Punjab Assembly, Elahi said, "PML-N members created chaos during the first session of the provincial assembly, resorted to hooliganism when the provincial chief minister was elected and now for a fourth time they have caused disruption."
Elahi said: "Hamza is behaving like a child." If a child is stubborn, those standing next to him should explain to him what is right," he added. "Opposition should learn manners on how to talk," Elahi further said, and added that an investigative report regarding vandalism of provincial assembly property will be presented before the Parliament. Further, the Punjab Assembly speaker said they are getting investigations conducted into projects initiated by the previous government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018

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