Opening the 'open debate' on issues pertaining to agriculture sector, provincial Irrigation Minister Awais Leghari said, since its inception, the PTI government was focusing on addressing issues of sugarcane growers on priority basis.

He said, the previous government did nothing but to exploit farming community, adding that billions of rupees were announced but no improvement was seen in this vital sector of the economy.

Lawmakers, who discussed the grievances of farmers especially the sugarcane growers, were Makhdoom Usman, Mian Shafi, Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Choudhry Zaheerud Din, Manazir Ali Ranjha, Faisal Hayyat Jabwana, Zakia Shahnawaz and Shazia Abid.

They gave useful proposals for the improvement of agriculture as well as irrigation sector.

They also suggested elimination of sugar permits.

They asked for lining of canals to save irrigation water.

During the Question-Hour session, Ministers of Agriculture, Higher Education, Schools Education and Special Education responded to questions regarding their miniseries.

Agriculture Minister Punjab, Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial who was present in the House, would wind up the two-day discussion on Thursday.

Earlier, the third sitting of the fifth session of the current assembly started an hour and 43 minutes behind its scheduled time with Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari in the chair.

As many as 115 lawmakers were present at the outset of the sitting.

Soon after recitation from the holy verses, Provincial Minister for School Education Murad Raas, during Question-Hour session, told the House that revolutionary reforms in education system would be introduced till March 2020 and a committee in this regard had already been constituted. Answering a query, he said, a sum of Rs 223 million had been allocated for the construction of boundaries around schools including 37 in Toba Tek Singh.

He said, currently 14 Danish Schools were functioning in the province, adding school fee system was being monitored under the 1984 ordinance. Provincial Minister for Special Education Choudhry Muhmmad Akhlaq told the House that 14 special education schools were running in four thesis of Gujranwala.

Later, the chair adjourned the House to meet again on Thursday.