Punjab Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha speaking at the supplementary budget debate here Tuesday said the provincial government in this fiscal year spent Rs 18 billion on flood relief operations. She added that this amount was 43 percent of the supplementary budget. Finance Minister talking about flood relief operations said they were conducted in 16 districts of the province. Ayesha told that Rs 25, 000 per person were given in the flood hit areas.
Minister averred that flood relief operations were conducted in two phases in province. She said in first phase 83 thousand houses, while in second phase 74 thousand houses were constructed. Finance Minister dilating on the PML-N government efforts said hard work had been done to bring Chinese investment in the country. In the Punjab assembly, opposition leader Aslam Iqbal speaking in the debate termed Punjab budget as a bunch of lies. He said that provincial government swayed by Metro phobia should have spent budget of the project on improving hospitals in the province. Former minister stated that schools in Punjab particularly of south Punjab were in decay.
Aslam Iqbal during the day submitted a resolution against MQM in the assembly. The resolution pertains to alleged negative involvement of the party in national affairs. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that government portfolios were already looking into allegation of dubious role by MQM.
Minister said government had already done much for improvement in electricity generation in the country. He stated that allegations of negligence in this regard were not true. Punjab Finance Minister earlier participating in the supplementary budget debate dilated that no tax had been levied on tractor or agricultural goods carrying trolleys. She said 16 percent tax had only been levied on registered good transport companies. During the session speaker took oath from PML-Q legislator Nasir Cheema. The house was later adjourned by the chair.