Punjab Assembly in its 26th session here on Wednesday passed four bills. The session chaired by Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal also dealt with query period on Department of Social Welfare and Bait-ul-Maal and Agriculture Department on the occasion. The bills passed in the session included 'The Punjab Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2017', 'The Punjab Drugs (Amendment)l2017', 'The Punjab Lands Records Authority Bill 2016' and 'The University of Home Economics Lahore Bill 2016'.
In the query period provincial Minister answering query on Bait-ul-Maal told that provincial government with the purpose of betterment of beggars has established 'Dar-ul-Kafala'in Lahore. He stated that government was also taking out a campaign against beggars in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. Provincial Minister stated that during the period 2007 to 2016, Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Maal distributed around Rs 84.65 million amongst needy people in the province. Provincial Minister Baitul-Maal to another query told that there were 46 offices working under Bitul-Maal Department in District Lahore at present. Provincial Minister Social Welfare stated that there were 36 Darul-Amman established in the province. He averred that in year 2015-16, budget of Rs 1.54 million was given to Darul Amman offices in Punjab.
Punjab Minister for Agriculture speaking in query period disclosed that due to financial benefits the practice of tunnel farming was on rise in Lahore. To another question, Minister told that 3, 76,000 acre area was affected by salinity in District Sheikhupura including District Nankana sahib. The house was later adjourned by the chair.