ISLAMABAD: (Parliament Times) The National Assembly resumed its session in Islamabad on Wednesday with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair.
At the outset of the proceedings, members belonging to minorities staged a walkout from the House to record their protest against the behavior of the Sindh Government with the minorities.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Asiya Nasir said that no proper action has been taken against the doctor who refused to treat a Christian in Umarkot district.
Similarly, she expressed her reservations over an advertisement for the posts of sanitary workers given by the Mayor Karachi.
Members belonging to the opposition parties staged a walkout from the House for pressing their demand for live broadcast of speech of the Opposition leader on PTV.
Taking the floor, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Barjees Tahir said that the government is ready to take opposition onboard but the behavior of the opposition members is not serious. He said the opposition members should highlight the problems of their constituencies in the House but they have failed to perform their due role in the budget discussion.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said that the opposition leader is responsible for not allowing members to speak in the budget discussion. He said most of the opposition members are anxious to speak on the budget and they should be allowed to make recommendations on the budgetary proposals.
Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that Pakistan Peoples Party has failed to deliver in Sindh and it should focus on the province rather than leveling baseless allegations against the federal government.
Later, the National Assembly resumed general discussion on the budget for the next fiscal year.
Participating in the debate, Iftikharuddin congratulated the government on presenting the federal budget for the fifth consecutive time. He said government’s steps to strengthen economy are appreciable.
Awais Ahmad Leghari appreciated the government’s steps for uplift of the agriculture sector in the country. He proposed that the markup rate on loan for the farmers should be reduced and efficiency of Zarai Taraqiati Bank be enhanced.
