Govt faces criticism for ‘ignoring’ health, education in Punjab budget

LAHORE: The opposition members in Punjab Assembly have criticised the PML-N government for allegedly ignoring key sectors like health and education for a single Metro Bus Project which will only benefit people of Rawalpindi.
Asif Mehmood, PTI’s member, during his budget speech said only for a single Metro Bus Project, a huge amount was spent which was higher than allocated for sectors like health, education and higher education.
He said as a member of this House, he had no objection if the government wanted to launch its ‘metro’ projects, but sectors of health and education should be treated on merit. He demanded the government adopt international standard while presenting budget.
He said the government had prioritised Metro Bus Project and ignored that in the same city people didn’t have graveyard and were unable to find any burial place without the payment of Rs 16,000 fee.
Raja Muhammad Ali, the PML-N legislator from Kahuta, Rawalpindi in his budget speech lauded the CM for presenting a remarkable and historic budget.Nabila Hakim Ali, the PTI legislator, in her budget stated according to PML-N claims, people of China and Turkey had become great fan of Shahbaz Sharif but it was strange that sufferings of people of Punjab continued unabated. She said the government was striving to bring those living below poverty line in the tax net but ignoring mafias busy looting people. She said governance of the Punjab government could well be assessed from the facts that incidents of thefts had turned into robberies but nothing had been done to improve law and order. Meanwhile, Azma Zahid Bokhari, the PML-N legislator, and Mian Aslam Iqbal of PTI exchanged hot words after the PTI member stated if she had not continued to praise her party leadership, she would have not been appointed as minister.
On these remarks, Azma came hard on Mian Aslam Iqbal, former minister in the cabinet of Ch Pervaiz Elahi in Musharraf era, said he was made minister because he ‘danced’ for a dictator and ‘polished’ his shoes. The remarks were expunged from the proceedings on the instructions of the chair.