Peshawar: A detailed discussion was held in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session on food shortages facing the province, quality of development projects, funds for underdeveloped districts, basic facilities, and the quota system in government jobs.
During the session, members strongly criticized the government’s performance, and the Speaker referred several matters to the standing committees.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. The session began with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem, after which various important public and administrative issues were discussed during the question hour.
Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Ahmad Kundi raised the question that the province spends millions of rupees every year on food imports, but what practical steps the government has taken to increase agricultural production, especially when agricultural land is rapidly diminishing.
He demanded that this important issue be referred to the standing committee. In response, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati said that the chairperson of the standing committee had already taken suo motu notice of the matter and directed that the member who raised the issue also be invited to the committee meeting.
During the session, MPA Asma Alam raised a question regarding the funds allocated and released by the Communications Department for South Waziristan, claiming that the district has suffered severe deprivation and terrorism
. On this occasion, Ahmad Kundi pointed out discrepancies in the figures provided by the department, saying that the department presents the facts in a confusing manner.
Law Minister Aftab Alam replied that the difference in figures could be a critical mistake; however, the Speaker clearly directed that instead of defending the mistake, the concerned department should be questioned. Later, at the request of the member who raised the issue, the Speaker referred the question to the standing committee.
Awami National Party member Nisar Baz raised a question regarding laboratory testing of materials used in road construction. The Law Minister informed the House that material testing is carried out in mega projects, but strict quality control checks are not in place for smaller schemes.
He said that supervision is carried out during construction, while quality testing is kept as an option; however, the matter would be brought to the Chief Minister’s notice with a proposal to make testing mandatory.
According to the Law Minister, if any road is found to be substandard, the concerned contractor is bound to reconstruct it, and the department retains the contractor’s security deposit for one year so that, if needed, reconstruction can be carried out using that amount.
Awami National Party parliamentary leader Arbab Usman demanded details of the funds released for the installation of transformers, stating that electricity transformers are a basic right of the people. He said that at least funds under this head should be released; otherwise, the government should clearly state its policy.
Local Government Minister Mian Afridi replied that transformers are identified through the Assistant Director of Local Government and the Secretary of the Neighborhood and Village Council, after which the installation process is completed.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) member Rehana Ismail raised a question regarding quotas for women, persons with disabilities, and minorities in the Livestock Department. On this occasion, Ahmad Kundi said that according to the Constitution, all citizens should be treated equally, and since women constitute fifty percent of the population, they should be given equal opportunities.
Law Minister Aftab Alam said that in some departments, more posts than the prescribed limit were advertised, even though there was no need for them, which is why institutions like PIA suffered losses in the past. He clarified that it is not the case that vacant posts for women are deliberately not advertised; however, the relevant departments will be directed to fill vacant posts for women as soon as possible.