LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan shared his thoughts on the traditional Basant festival while addressing media representatives within the assembly premises.
He expressed his deep affection for the cultural celebration, describing his connection to Basant as a cherished romance. However, he voiced serious apprehension about the dangers associated with the festival, particularly the use of sharp kite strings that have proven fatal in past incidents.
He emphasised that individuals flying kites bear the primary responsibility for safety during the festivities. He stressed that participants must ensure no damage occurs to infrastructure and that all potential hazards should be carefully avoided throughout the celebration.
However, the Punjab Assembly session commenced with a substantial delay of two hours and seventeen minutes from its scheduled start time.
During the proceedings, a question concerning action taken against illegal occupants of properties belonging to the Auqaf Department was forwarded to the relevant Standing Committee for further examination. Government member Amjad Ali Javed expressed dissatisfaction with the response provided by Malik Waheed, the Parliamentary Secretary for Auqaf, regarding measures taken against land encroachment by criminal elements.
Amjad Ali Javed questioned what concrete steps the department had implemented against illegal occupants since its establishment. In response, Malik Waheed clarified that the documented cases of encroachment all predated the department’s formation and that legal proceedings were currently underway in courts for all such matters.
Government member Rao Kashif Rahim presented an adjournment motion addressing the artificial scarcity of bricks throughout Punjab province. He informed the assembly that brick kiln operations have been halted in smaller cities across the region, resulting in dramatically inflated prices due to deliberately restricted production.
Due to the absence of the relevant Parliamentary Secretary, consideration of Rao Kashif Rahim’s adjournment motion was postponed until an official response could be obtained.
However, the budget debate session in the Punjab Assembly encountered significant disruption due to the absence of relevant government authorities. The Parliamentary Secretary explained that the responsible minister was unable to attend due to illness.
Opposition member Ahmar Bhatti rose to address the House, questioning the purpose of conducting budget deliberations when key officials were not present to participate in the discussion. He argued that either the Finance Secretary or Special Secretary should be in attendance, asserting that their presence represents a fundamental right of the assembly.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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