PA passes annual budget with majority

LAHORE: Punjab Assembly (PA) has passed the annual budget with majority for the fiscal year 2011-12, while all cut motions tabled by opposition members rejected during the voting.

According to details, PA session started under the chairmanship of Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal here on Wednesday. Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif was also present in the House. Government presented 43 demands for grants and opposition filed 6 cut motions. The house rejected opposition cut motions with majority regarding police, agriculture, food, health and education departments while 6th cut motion about state trading disposed of through guillotine.

The opposition members of PPP did not take part in the voting but PML members opposed the demands for grants during the voting.

After passing the budget, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif also addressed in the house and said that he was thankful the Leader of Opposition Raja Riaz Ahmed for his cooperation and healthy criticism and their suggestion about the budget. He also praised the Minister for Finance Karmran Michael for presenting the budget in the provincial assembly house.

Chief Minister during his address also clarified about Rs 50 million grants for Chand Bagh School and asked that the said institution was not only for rich families but it was running under a board of governor. The children belong to good families were studying there and the school also offering the study for orphans for promoting education. He said government has decided to grant the funds due to education promotion services of the school.

Chief Minister also discussed opposition objection about Danish School and said that Danish Schools were not creating class differences among poor and rich segments of the society. He said those were criticizing grants for Chand Bagh School, they granted Rs500 million for LUMS, Rs 100 million for Rawalpindi Gymkhana Club and Rs 50 million for Lahore Gymkhana Club in previous regime.

He urged that treasury and opposition members that they must be served the province together.(PPI)