LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan indicated on Tuesday that work appears to have begun on the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, emphasising his focus on securing constitutional protection for local government institutions.
Speaking to the media outside the assembly, he noted that a unanimous resolution had already been passed by all parties in the Punjab Assembly on the matter. He expressed his desire for local governments to receive the same constitutional safeguards as the federal and provincial governments and stated his hope that the amendment would face no opposition.
The Speaker elaborated that the proposed amendment would need to assess whether the federal government retains sufficient financial capacity to manage its affairs after the distribution of funds to provinces through the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
He clarified that his central argument is to provide district governments with constitutional protection within this amendment and suggested that the matter could be addressed at a later stage if not included in the current proposal. Responding to a separate question, the Speaker also commented on the incarceration of the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stating that it is necessary to examine the nature of the crimes for which he is imprisoned.
Earlier, the Punjab Assembly session commenced two hours and two minutes behind its scheduled time, with Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan in the chair. The proceedings began with Fatiha offered for the martyrs of the Pakistan Army.
At the outset of the session, Punjab Law Minister Rana Muhammad Iqbal presented two significant bills: The Punjab Emergency Service (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Speaker referred both pieces of legislation to the relevant committees for a detailed review over the next two months.
Addressing the house, Speaker Khan expressed concern that all members were collectively contributing to a decline in the assembly's effectiveness. He further warned that ministers who delay their responses to questions would be summoned before the privileges committee. Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir provided assurance that answers to future questions would be furnished promptly.
During the private members' business, several important bills concerning educational institutions were introduced. The Minhaj University Lahore (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was presented by government member Sanbal Malik Hussain, while The Crown Ridge University Bill, 2025 was tabled by MPA Tasneem Safdar. Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Shazia Abid presented The Times University Multan (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Furthermore, the Ali bin Usman Institute Multan Bill, 2025 and The Superior University Lahore (Amendment) Bill, 2025 were introduced by MPAs Atiya Iftikhar and Somiya Ata, respectively. All these bills were referred to the relevant standing committees for detailed examination and debate.
The assembly also granted formal approval to a suite of university bills. The Orien International University Bill, 2025, presented by government member Tariq Subhani, was passed. The Ukhuwat University Kasur Bill, 2025, tabled by Malik Ahmad Saeed Khan, and the Bahauddin Zakariya University (Amendment) Bill, 2025, presented by PPP's Shazia Abid, were also approved. In the technology sector, The University of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Sciences Bill, 2025, and The Mubarak University of Science and Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2025, both presented by Tariq Subhani, received approval. The passage of these bills is anticipated to foster improvement and development in the province's educational landscape.
In a public health initiative, the assembly unanimously passed a resolution calling for the inclusion of blood group details on national identity cards. The resolution, moved by MPA Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry, stated that timely access to blood group information could save hundreds of lives in emergencies. It highlighted the serious difficulties faced by hospitals and blood banks when a patient's blood group is unknown and asserted that including this information on ID cards would facilitate timely blood transfusions. The resolution, acknowledging the advocacy of the Zafarwal Blood Society, demanded that the federal government and NADRA take immediate necessary steps to implement this measure.
On foreign affairs, the house unanimously passed a resolution paying tribute to the political and military leadership for the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact signed on June 17, 2025. The resolution, moved by government member Shagufta Faisal, honoured the historic agreement under which Pakistan has been entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the Two Holy Mosques. It noted that Pakistan is the sole nuclear power among over forty Islamic countries and hailed the recent demonstration of its deterrence capabilities.
The resolution praised former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's historic decision to make Pakistan a nuclear power, thereby strengthening the defense of the Muslim Ummah, and also commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's efforts and Field Marshal General Asim Munir's military strategy. It expressed confidence that Pakistan would fulfil its new responsibility with sincerity and thwart any conspiracies against Islam and the Muslim world.
To address environmental health concerns, the assembly passed another resolution concerning the prevention of smog and seasonal diseases. Moved by government MPA Fatima Begum, the resolution stated that public health is being severely affected by the current weather and increasing smog. It proposed that shops in markets close by 8 PM and wedding halls by a maximum of 10 PM to mitigate the spread of pollution and disease.
The resolution argued that these measures would not only reduce air pollution but also curb the unnecessary crowds and disorder that contribute to the rapid spread of diseases, making it a better public health decision, especially considering school schedules and children's convenience.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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