Sitting on 15th March 2024

The sitting commenced with recitation from the Holy Qur’an and its Urdu translation followed by Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool ﷺ

Rana Aftab Ahmad, MPA (PP-108) raised a point of order objecting to the administering of oath by the Speaker to Member-elect Mr Khan Bahadar from PP-100 invoking the provisions of Rule 38 of the Rules of Procedure of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997. The Speaker reserved his ruling.

The Speaker administered oath of membership of the Assembly to the Member-elect Mr Khan Bahadar (PP-100, Faisalabad-III). The member then signed Roll of Members.

Two Zero Hour Notices were taken up. The Notice by Syed Riffat Mehmood, MPA (PP-24) was disposed of as the mover was not present. Through the second notice, the mover Mr Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi, MPA (PP-217) raised the issue of crackdown against kite flyers claiming that the cases were being registered against children and they were being arrested instead of real culprits i.e. manufacturers of kites and string. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs responded to the notice, however, the notice was pended for detailed reply by the concerned Minister.

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Shah, MPA (PP-96) moved his Privilege Motion claiming that the Government had failed to lay the Annual Report on Principles of Policy in the House, resulting in the breach of the House. The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs assured the House that the said report would be laid in the House. The Privilege Motion was, therefore, disposed of.

Five Adjournment Motions were taken up.

·         In his Adjournment Motion, Ch Muhammad Ejaz Shafi, MPA (PP-258)  raised the issue of land grabbing owned by overseas Pakistanis. The Motion was pended for reply by the concerned Minister.

·         In his motion, Mr Muhammad Iqbal, MPA (PP-85) claimed that in his constituency, Mianwali there was not even a single school for girls within an area of 20-kilometres and girls of 15 villages were deprived of obtaining education. He requested to establish primary and secondary schools in the area. The motion was pended for reply.

·         The motion moved by Mr Muhammad Nadeem Qureshi, MPA (PP-217) stated that in his constituency in Multan, the most important highway from Chungi No.14 to Khuni Bridge also known as TB Road had not been carpeted after completion of sewerage system. His motion was pended for reply.

·         In his motion, Mr Amjad Ali Javed, MPA (PP-121) claimed that MCPS programme was started in 2016 in Gynecology and Pediatrics Departments in District Headquarters, Toba Tek Singh, but the programme was suddenly stopped; the motion was pended for reply.

·         The next motion moved by Mr Shuaib Ameer, MPA (PP-281) claimed that in District Layyah, farmers were facing difficulties because canal water did not reach their crops at the tail and water was being theft in the middle in connivance with the staff of Irrigation Department; this motion was also pended for reply.

Mr Khalil Tahir, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, moved a Motion in terms of Rule 187 of the Rules of Procedure of Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997, for the appointment of Special Committee No.1 of the Assembly with Mr Khurram Khan Virk, MPA (PP-48) as its Convener; the Committee would deal with such business of the Assembly as may be referred to it by the Assembly from time to time.

The Motion was adopted by House.

Mr Khalil Tahir, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Mr Shafay Hussain, Minister for Industries, Commerce & Investment laid the following Ordinances before the House, which were referred to Special Committee No.1 with the direction to submit its report within two months:

1.   The Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Ordinance 2023

2.   The Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Ordinance 2023

3.   The Police Order (Amendment) Ordinance 2023

4.   The Punjab Agricultural Marketing Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance 2023

5.   The Punjab Healthcare Commission (Amendment) Ordinance 2023

6.   The Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Ordinance 2023

Motion for leave

Mr Khalil Tahir, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs moved a motion that leave of the Assembly be granted under Rule 127 of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, 1997, to move Resolutions under Article 128 (2) (a) of the Constitution for extension of the Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 (XIX of 2023).

The motion was adopted and the leave was granted.

Resolution for extension of Ordinance

Mr Khalil Tahir, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, move a resolution that the House may extend the period of validity of the Punjab Civil Servants (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 (XIX of 2023), promulgated on 26^th December 2023, for a further period of ninety days with effect from 26^th March 2024.

The resolution was adopted.

The Speaker adjourned the House sine die.