Punjab Assembly on Tuesday applauded the services of Dr Syed Abul-Hassan Najmi, who retired from service after serving as secretary of the Assembly for over 10 years.
Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja speaking at the occasion specially mentioned Najmi's efforts towards introducing Information Technology in the Assembly as epoch. A delegation of press gallery committee also appreciating Najmi services, met him at his office.
Muhammad Basharat Raja, speaking on a Point of Order, apprised the House that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi had contacted Chief Minister NWFP Muhammad Akram Durrani over missing of Naeem Ullah Shahani Sports Minister of Punjab in Frontier.
Speaking on an adjournment Motion moved by Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas, Punjab Agriculture Minister Arshad Khan Lodhi stated that measures had already been taken to overcome shortage of pesticide in the Province.
Lodhi, apprising the House about cotton yield, stated that 6.7 million cotton bales had already been tapped till January. Punjab, with good results in cotton, is expected to achieve production figure of 8 million, he added.
Speaking on a Point of Order Revenue Minister Gul Hameed Rokri stated that report on four districts out of 17 rain-effected districts in the province had been received.
"When we would receive remaining reports, Punjab government will finalise compensation for farmers of the effected areas," he added.
Punjab Assembly Treasury as well as Opposition benches showing an act of unison passed a resolution proposing naming of ARID Agricultural University Rawalpindi in the name of Hazrat Pir Mehr Ali Shah.
The Assembly in two separate out of turn resolutions, passed on the occasion, asked federal as well as provincial governments to take measures for provision of agriculture loans on working capital as well as inputs of small farmers at interest rate of 3-5 percent.
Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed answering a query on Health by Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas stated that no medicine was bought under Grant 34 in 2002.
He said that from left out stock of year 2003, laboratory instruments, and medicines worth Rs 3.86 million have been provided to hospitals in the province.
Referring to another question regarding Medical Store Depot, he stated that its record was not computerised.
Answering a question on provision of medical facilities in Township, Javed stated that two dispensaries, one at Government Dispensary Township and other at Green Town were providing health services to people of the area.