PA budget discussion: Ministers’ absence embarrasses government

LAHORE:The Punjab government on Monday had to face an embarrassing situation as only one cabinet member was present in the House during the budget discussion on agriculture.

Even the Punjab Minister for Agriculture was absent during the debate on agriculture which not only embarrassed the government but also forced PA Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan to remark that 'we are forced to tell CM Punjab that her ministers don't attend the session'.

Former Speaker Punjab Assembly and seasoned political figure from Kasur Rana M Iqbal Khan on the occasion demanded the presence of Punjab Minister for Agriculture in the assembly to deliver a wind up speech related to this important sector.

Saeed Akbar Niwani, the senior most member of Punjab Assembly in the current lot of MPAs with around nine terms as the legislator of the House since 1985, also expressed his dismay over the constant absence of ministers and their irresponsible attitude towards the assembly business. Addressing the Speaker he said it was he who had taken all responsibility of these cabinet members on his shoulders. He said the Punjab cabinet members roamed freely and paid no attention towards their responsibilities related to this House.

Niwani, the PMLN legislator who hails from Bhakkar said that if the ministers responded to the questions and issues related to them, the situation would improve to a great extent. Directing the Punjab cabinet members to ensure their presence in the assembly during session, the PA Speaker directed CM's Special Assistant Salma Butt to respond to the questions related to the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Taimoor Lali told the House that 27 new electric buses were being purchased for the provincial capital in the current fiscal year. The Speaker on the occasion remarked that in Punjab, Public Transport Facility was provided in the form of buses but most of the people prefer to travel by motorbikes with their families due to which there was a low ratio of passengers.