LAHORE: Two significant draft bills were presented before the Punjab Assembly on Friday during a session marked by parliamentary debate and procedural concerns. The Film Development Authority Punjab 2025 bill and the draft amendment bill for empowering disabled persons in Punjab 2025 were both introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman. Following their presentation, both legislative proposals were referred to relevant committees for detailed examination over a period of two months. The assembly session commenced with a considerable delay of two hours, with Samiullah Khan, Panel of Chairperson, presiding over the proceedings. The session was dominated by ongoing question and answer discussions related to the Agriculture Department, though the absence of key officials became a significant source of frustration among assembly members. The non attendance of Agriculture Minister Ashiq Kirmani and the Agriculture Secretary drew sharp criticism from members across the political spectrum. Government member Amjad Ali Javed expressed his dissatisfaction with what he described as a lack of seriousness from both the minister and departmental secretaries. Opposition member Imtiaz Sheikh subsequently demanded that the question series pertaining to the Agriculture Department be postponed, arguing that there was little purpose in continuing the proceedings when departmental officials did not prioritize parliamentary engagement. Amjad Ali Javed delivered a scathing critique of staffing issues within the Agriculture Department, highlighting what he characterized as an imbalanced approach to recruitment. He pointed out that while numerous officer positions exist, recruitment at lower operational levels remains severely neglected. He revealed that during the tenure of the caretaker government, thirty-six thousand positions were eliminated, resulting in a situation where personnel who would directly serve the public are not being hired. He further disclosed that the Engineering Department within the Agriculture Department is currently sixty-five percent vacant. In response to these concerns, Parliamentary Secretary Usama Leghari committed to obtaining a comprehensive report on the government’s policy regarding these staffing matters. Adding another dimension to the criticism, Amjad Ali Javed alleged that daily wage employees spend more time working in officers’ personal homes than performing their official duties. He called for the matter to be referred to committee for proper discussion and resolution. The session also witnessed government member Ahsan Raza Khan raising the pressing issue of the potato crop crisis on a point of order. He explained that farmers across Punjab have invested billions of rupees in potato cultivation, but the closure of borders with Russia and Afghanistan has severely impacted their ability to market their harvest. Khan elaborated that farmers have spent between one hundred fifty thousand to two hundred thousand rupees per acre on potato cultivation, yet the current market rate is so depressed due to excess production that farmers cannot even recover their basic expenses. Drawing a historical parallel, Ahsan Raza Khan referenced a similar agricultural crisis that occurred during the government of Benazir Bhutto, when the Punjab government of that era intervened by purchasing the entire affected crop from farmers and covering their losses. He urged the current administration to establish a comparable mechanism to purchase the potato crop and prevent farmers from suffering financial devastation. Khan also noted that cold storage facilities are refusing to accept potatoes, adding to the distress experienced by the farming community. In response to this concern, Panel of Chairperson Samiullah Khan directed that an adjournment motion be submitted regarding the potato crop crisis. Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture Usama Leghari responded sharply to opposition criticism regarding the minister’s absence, asserting that answering questions in the assembly is the responsibility of the parliamentary secretary rather than the minister. He also challenged opposition claims regarding wheat cultivation, stating that wheat cultivation has increased rather than decreased this year. Leghari requested that the opposition examine the facts before making allegations against his minister or the chief minister, warning that baseless accusations would be met with appropriate responses. He emphasized the importance of fact-based discussion that could lead to constructive corrections where necessary. Attempting to restore parliamentary decorum, Panel of Chairpersons Samiullah Khan remarked that the opposition and government benches represent the two essential wheels of parliament, emphasising that the house can only function effectively when both sides work collaboratively. Government member Waqqas Mahmood Maan acknowledged that parliamentary sanctity had been collectively compromised, recalling that the previous year saw unanimous criticism of the government’s wheat policy, which was subsequently ignored by the administration. Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi used the session to voice serious concerns about the treatment of his party members. He stated that every Tuesday, opposition members visit Adiala Jail to express solidarity with the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Qureshi complained that despite maintaining peaceful conduct outside the facility, false cases have been registered against their workers and provincial assembly members. Opposition member Sheikh Imtiaz pointed out that the house lacked the required quorum. Bells were subsequently rung throughout the assembly to summon members and complete the quorum. However, when the quorum remained incomplete, Panel of Chairpersons member Samiullah Khan adjourned the session until Monday at two in the afternoon. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025