Punjab government in order to support the poor segment of the society economically would give a package for them in Ramazan. Punjab Minister Mujataba Shuja-u-Rehman dilated this in the eighth session of the Assembly here on Friday. The minister speaking about global effect of rise in prices of gasoline said it also had a colossal impact on our economy.
However, he said in comparative study of the economy of the region in overall 25 items such as wheat, flour, rice and others there had been lesser increase of prices as compared to countries of the region including India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran, Dubai, China and others.
The minister said that the present government despite rise in prices world-wide and their impact on our economy had taken stringent measures to improve the supply and price situation.
He said under legislative enactment laid in this behalf DCO' s have been instructed to check prices of 25 essential commodities at district level. They would form committees in this respect and magistrates have been given duties in this behalf that have fined a large number of persons for overcharging. He said a Special Task Force had also been created to monitor prices of the commodities.
Chaudhry Zaheer-u-Din Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly speaking in General Discussion on Supply and Prices of essential commodities said that there had been a severe deterioration on economic fronts in the country in the previous five-month period.
Talking about foreign reserves; dollar-rupee parity, rise in prices of commodities he said the performance of the present coalition in this respect was far from satisfactory. He pointed that if there was rice in prices of gasoline here due to increase in prices internationally, the reduction in its price internationally should also be transferred to the local people. The Chair on this point also supported the assertion of Leader of the Opposition and asked the government to look at it.
There was a mention of lack of quorum in the House and at counting the session continued. Opposition legislators stressed on the need of presence of government ministers in the House for effectiveness of the proceedings on the occasion.
On an Adjournment Motion by MPA Sh. Allaudin who also made a walk out of the session to stress his point, a large number of Punjab legislators entering the discussion asked for five persons - Haj quota for each member of Punjab Assembly.
Senior Minister Raja Riaz on the point said that at present if this was done other assemblies would also ask for such quota, which was not possible at present, he added. However, on emphasis of the legislators, the Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah said that their point of view would be conveyed to the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
Rana Sana Ullah deliberating on an Adjournment Motion regarding supply of urea fertiliser said that a request for import of it has been made to the federal government. A number of Punjab legislators on the issue showed their reservations on effective supply of it. They also criticised the concerned department for it's in aptness in the matter. The Chair while admitting the motion decided the issue to be further deliberated on session on Monday.
The Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah speaking in House on questions about Services and General Administration answering a query from MPA Muhammad Moeen Wattoo said that there were no two- room general quarters in Poonch House Colony and Huma Bloch Allama Iqbal Town.
He replying to a question from MPA Syed Hassan Murtaza said that there was a unified policy of allotment for employees of Lahore High Court; Civil Secretariat and Punjab Assembly employees. He said all the allotments in the mentioned heads were on merit and Punjab government was strictly following the policy in this respect. The House was later adjourned by the Chair.