Punjab Assembly passes 72 bills

Punjab Assembly that has passed 72 bills so far in its deliberations since its inception passed 'The University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi (Amendment Bill 2004) on Thursday. The House on the occasion making change gave new name to university as 'Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University'.
The bill forwarded by opposition member Tanvir Ashraf Kaira is the first bill by opposition legislator to be passed during its 30 sessions. On the Private Members Day session commenced 10:00am. Meanwhile another bill 'The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2007 presented by opposition legislator Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas and nine other legislators was kept in pending by the chair.
During the session a resolution presented by MPA Sh. Allaudin on sale of PSO was a kept in pending while resolution of MPA Arshad Baggo was withdrawn by the mover. Resolution by MPA Saud Dar was disposed off because of the non-availability of the mover. On the Resolution of MPA Misbah Kaukab, Minister Tahir Ali Javed told that water filtration plants were being installed in UC9 and other areas.
Housing Minister Syed Raza Ali Gilani on a question regarding water treatment plants said that those factories that do not establish such units were being taken action against.
The minister said factories in Faisalabad that were throwing water in dug holes without filtration were proceeded against under the Environment Act.
Opposition member Arshad Baggo along with treasury members Javaid Ahmad made criticism on the recent rise in travel fares for Haj. They said that this matter should be taken up with the federal government.
The legislators on the occasion also demanded improvement in facilities of Haj and said that it was unfortunate that people intending to perform Haj after facing severe hardship accumulate relevant finances and when they do so fares for the religious ritual were raised.
The chair on the occasion passed observation that 13 percent raise had been made in Haj fares as compared to 10 percent dilated in the House by some certain legislators.
Punjab Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja speaking on the misuse of car number plates said that measures had been taken in this record to curb such practices.
On a point of order of MPA Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas regarding paying of allowances to teachers, Education Minister Imran Masud said that due to paucity of funds this could not be done. He said Rs 3.50 billion was required to give education allowance to teachers in the city.
The minister said that a committee had been formed to solve grievances of teachers in the province.
On an Adjournment Motion by MPA Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas on an incident of burglary in Ali View Housing Society, Law Minister Muhammad Raja told that with Challan presented in the House, investigation of the case was proceeding. The House was adjourned for 9:00am on Friday later by the chair.