LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Wednesday voiced grave concerns over the proliferation of housing societies in small cities and rural areas across the province, stating that colonies being constructed in these smaller settlements lack proper sewerage systems and adequate road infrastructure.
During the provincial assembly session, the Speaker expressed alarm over individuals engaged in establishing illegal housing societies in rural regions.
Addressing these concerns, the Parliamentary Secretary informed the House that the Punjab government is preparing to introduce a comprehensive new system for approving housing societies. Under this proposed framework, the process of buying and selling plots will also be conducted through the new system, aimed at effectively controlling irregularities and providing safe, organized residential facilities to the public.
The Speaker highlighted the critical water supply situation in his constituency, revealing that seventy thousand residents in his city are currently compelled to consume contaminated water, describing it as an extremely alarming matter. While acknowledging the contributions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, he noted that she had ensured no shortage in the provision of financial resources and had allocated ample funds. However, he emphasised that despite these efforts, problems persist and the fundamental facility of clean drinking water remains unavailable to citizens.
The Speaker issued a strong appeal to the government to transfer powers to lower administrative levels, enabling public grievances to be resolved swiftly and effectively at the local level. He reiterated that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has provided unprecedented financial resources that were never allocated in such magnitude previously, yet millions of people continue to drink contaminated water. This situation, he stressed, demands immediate attention and action.
Speaker Khan announced that all questions received pertaining to assembly members would be referred to the relevant committees for proper consideration. He remarked that while the government is providing grants and financial assistance on an unprecedented scale, the unfortunate reality remains that work is not progressing at the desired pace and basic facilities are still not being made available to the public, which he described as deeply concerning.
The Punjab Assembly session commenced three hours behind schedule and was presided over by Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar.
Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi, while addressing the assembly, criticized the government for imposing a ban on kites bearing images of the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He argued that pictures hold no real significance because the image of the party founder is embedded in the hearts of supporters and cannot be erased. He urged the government to redirect its energies toward public welfare and development initiatives.
The Opposition Leader called for immediate government attention to the plight of farmers, who have suffered severe financial losses in wheat crops. He pointed out that the potato crop has been destroyed and citrus orchards have also been devastated. He insisted that the government should focus on these genuine and pressing problems rather than engaging in efforts to silence or detain individuals, which he characterized as unnecessary.
Expressing serious concern over the suspension of meetings with the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the Opposition Leader noted that various rumours are circulating due to the lack of access, complicating the situation further. He stated that if reports of the founder being transferred to PIMS hospital are accurate, family members should be properly informed about such developments.
Qureshi thanked the Speaker and Deputy Speaker while demanding that police be prevented from entering the residences of any provincial assembly member without permission, emphasising that the sanctity of private homes should not be violated during protests. He stressed that there should be no physical altercations during the arrest of any assembly member and that everyone should be treated with appropriate respect.
Regarding the Basant festival, the Opposition Leader warned that attempts are being made to corner people in the name of this celebration. He reiterated that farmers are facing continuous exploitation, with potato and kinnow crops in dire condition requiring urgent attention. Qureshi demanded that the government adopt positive rather than negative approaches and concentrate on addressing the actual problems facing the public.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, in his address to the House, described Basant as an exceptionally beautiful and traditional festival of Lahore that historically attracted tourists from around the world and formed an integral part of the city’s cultural identity. He explained that this festival serves as a welcoming gesture to spring and provides commercial and business communities with opportunities to expand their enterprises.
The minister assured the assembly that police would not harass citizens celebrating Basant and that the festival could be observed peacefully. However, he cautioned that if any attempts are made to disrupt the event or threaten public peace and order, legal action would be enforced accordingly.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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