Punjab PA okays Rs1.81 trillion grants for 43 proposals

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly approved grants worth Rs1.81 trillion for 43 proposals amidst a lot of commotion from the opposition. 

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif attended the budget session. Two cut-motions proposed by the opposition were rejected by the majority. Four resolutions presented in the assembly lapsed on Monday after designated time, according to the rules.

The session started an hour and a half late under the chair of acting speaker Sardar Shair Ali Gorchani. The opposition proposed two cut-motions related to education and health, which were debated in the house. However, both the cut-motions were rejected in the assembly by majority vote.

The approved grants included Rs3 billion 710 million for Revenue Land, Rs600 million for excise, Rs3 billion 350 million for forests, Rs1 billion 540 million for tax and other receivables, Rs95 billion 590 million for police, Rs160 million for museums, Rs40 billion 750 million for education, Rs107 billion 280 million for health, Rs13 billion 350 million for public health, Rs15 billion 60 million for agriculture, Rs154 billion for development, Rs90 billion 70 million for roads and Rs44 billion 51 million for public buildings.

The CM arrived in the assembly at the time of the approval of grants. He was greeted by the treasury benches with slogans while the opposition benches chanted go-Nawaz-go. The CM met with assembly members belonging to different districts at his chamber. A representative delegation of different minority communities led by Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs & Human Rights Khalil Tahir Sandhu called on the CM at his chamber and discussed matters of mutual interest.

The CM took part in the budgetary demands for grant proceedings and participated in voting as well. He remained in the Punjab Assembly for quite some time and left it after the session was prorogued till tomorrow.