PA passes 52 bills in parliamentary year

LAHORE: Punjab government had passed 52 bills in its first Parliamentary year that started from February 2024. It was revealed that since February 23, 2024, total 26 sessions of PA were summoned and assembly met for 134 days.

Rana Muhammad Arshad, the Chief Whip of the PA, while providing the details to media on Thursday regarding the first Parliamentary year of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz government stated that total 60 bills were introduced in PA out which 52 were passed and two were withdrawn. He said the bills passed by the government were mainly related to the development projects promised by the PMLN in its manifesto. He said that 80 new projects had also started.

On the Private Members Day, Rana Arshad said that 34 bills were introduced out of which 16 were passed. He also said that out of 790 adjournment motions, 356 were carried. He added that legislation on the pattern of National Assembly would be done in Punjab. To a question, he told that Punjab Budget session would take place on June 16 and claimed there would be no imposition of any new tax.

Rana Arshad went to say that the government servants would receive increase in their wages and pensions. To a question, he said PTI leader Mian Aslam Iqbal should take oath like 75 other members.

Meanwhile, in the PA session on Thursday chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, newly-elected MPA from PP 52, Sialkot, Hina Arshad took oath as the member of the House. Speaking on the floor of the House, Hina attributed her victory to the vision and performance of Punjab government led by Maryam Nawaz. She said she had defeated the PTI backed candidate with a margin of 38,000 votes. Besides, Rana Shahbaz, the Opposition MPA from Jhang, criticised the government for presenting the budget while the cabinet is incomplete. Nadeem Qureshi, PTI backed MPA from Multan on the occasion, stated that the government was treating South Punjab like a stepmother.

Moreover, the PMLN MPA lauded Suthra Punjab initiate and performance of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) workers for keeping Punjab and Lahore clean during Eidul Azha. During a resolution moved by Naeem Safdar Ansari, the PMLN legislator from Kasur to laud Suthra Punjab initiative, Opposition members made noise that displeased the ruling party members. Sami Ullah Khan criticised Opposition for misleading the people of Punjab. Ahsan Raza also lauded the Suthra Punjab project and criticized the Opposition for making unnecessary hue and cry.

A bill related to Cooperative Societies was also passed by the House after which session was adjourned.