LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Monday declared as unlawful the carrying of placards inscribed with slogans or protest by members in the House.
When the House resumed discussion on the Budget 2025-26, opposition PTI lawmakers entered there, raising slogans.
Speaker Khan, who was chairing the proceedings, said he was giving a ruling on the protest in the House, and barred PTI鈥檚 Ahmed Khan Bhachar from speaking on a point of order, saying the opposition leader should first listen to his ruling.
The speaker emphasised that the House is not meant for protests and that no member can speak without his permission or bring slogan-bearing placards into the chamber.
Minister claims 83,000 children enrolled due to school meal programme
He stated that all actions must be in accordance with the law and that he would not impose his own will.
He also gave a ruling on fundamental rights, asserting that all are equal before the law and have the right to religious, political, and moral freedom. Now it鈥檚 up to the opposition what traditions they wish to set for the House, he added.
Bhachar said the opposition would honour the ruling of the custodian of the House.
Four ministers provided updates on their departments鈥 performance over the past year concerning public welfare and outlined their future programmes.
Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafique presented a review of the Punjab Cities Programme, highlighting developmental schemes in 40 cities across 18 districts. He emphasised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz鈥檚 goal for 鈥渆nd-to-end solutions鈥 for urban issues, including sewerage, drainage, streetlights, roads and parks.
He announced that the first phase of the programme would soon begin in 61 cities, with plans to address urban needs for the next 25 years, using the Lahore Development Plan (LDP) as a model.
Provincial Minister for Social Welfare Sohail Shaukat lauded the government鈥檚 鈥渢ax-free budget,鈥 citing programmes like 鈥淒hi Rani,鈥 which has facilitated marriages of 3,000 girls, and the provision of wheelchairs to physically challenged persons. He announced plans to fund 5,000 more marriages under the Dhi Rani scheme this year and urged the opposition to identify deserving individuals in their constituencies for the purpose.
Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat Khan discussed the significant budgetary increases for education, from Rs32 billion to Rs100bn for school development and Rs18bn for higher education, this year.
He mentioned that the 鈥淪chool Meal Programme鈥 has brought 83,000 out-of-school children into schools and increased enrollment, particularly in south Punjab. He also highlighted the 鈥淢atric in Technology鈥 plan and the government鈥檚 initiative to train teachers in Scotland.
Provincial Minister Malik Faisal Ayub Khokhar announced the issuance of ration cards for labourers, providing them with a ration worth Rs3,000 each, incurring a total project cost of Rs40bn. He also noted the increase in the minimum wage from Rs37,000 to Rs40,000.
He claimed that the Punjab government resolved over 100,000 complaints regarding unpaid minimum wages.
Provincial Law Minister Sohaib Ahmad Barth showcased the Punjab government鈥檚 performance in road construction through a video, emphasising the introduction of e-tendering and the 鈥渢ransparent鈥 construction of 12,000kms of roads. He outlined plans for the construction of ring roads and expressways.
Opposition member Junaid Afzal Sahi criticised the budget, questioning its purpose if the government鈥檚 intent was merely to 鈥渇avour鈥 certain groups. He highlighted the apparent favouritism towards bureaucrats in the budget and challenged the sufficiency of the Rs40,000 minimum wage given the rising costs of daily-use items.
Hafiz Farhat, another PTI MPA, cited the Auditor General of Pakistan鈥檚 report, alleging Rs1 trillion irregularities within the Punjab government. He stressed the need for accountability and lamented the decrease in agriculture鈥檚 share of the GDP despite Pakistan being an agricultural country, comparing the current input costs to those in the previous governments鈥 tenures.
Opposition MPA Sheikh Imtiaz accused the government of misleading the House regarding budget figures, claiming only Rs1,109bn were allocated in the previous development budget. He called for the finance minister鈥檚 resignation and questioned why the budget did not go to the standing committees. He also criticised the government for focusing more on road construction without addressing issues like out-of-school children or poverty in the province.
PTI member Nadia Kharal voiced concerns over a 30pc reduction in farmers鈥 crop yields and the lack of specific packages for women in the budget despite a female chief minister heading the province. She also claimed an increase in harassment cases against women under the current administration.
Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2025