PESHAWAR, July 2: NWFP lawmakers on Wednesday flayed the ban on transportation of wheat from Punjab to the NWFP and termed it another blow to the already sick flour industry of the province.

Speaking on his call attention notice, Abdul Akbar Khan of the PPP drew the attention of the house to the abrupt ban. He urged the NWFP government to take up the matter with the Punjab and federal governments.

Quoting Article 151 of the Constitution, the PPP member said no assembly or government could restrict the entry of goods from one province to another. “The Constitution does not allow the Punjab government to take unconstitutional measure and facilitate the Punjab flour merchant groups,” he said.

Bashir Ahmed Bilour of the ANP urged the government to take action against the illegal move by the Punjab government, which, he added, could push his province into another crisis. He feared Punjab might ban transportation of flour to the NWFP as well.

He said the Punjab government’s decision would bring the NWFP flour industry to the verge of collapse and render hundreds of people jobless.

Food Minister Fazal Rabbani said the Punjab government had violated the Constitution and decisions of the federal cabinet by imposing the ban. The minister assured the house that the government would take up the issue with both Punjab and federal governments for immediate withdrawal of the ban.

Speaking on a point of order, Shah Raz Khan from Malakand drew attention of the house to the occupation of private land by the army troops stationed at the Malakand Fort. “The residents, who are owners of the land, have been told to stay away from the land around the fort. It has become difficult for residents to protect their honour and customs,” he said.

He claimed that the army had stopped work on development projects being executed under the Khushhal-i-Pakistan programme.

Local Government Minister Sardar Mohammad Idrees assured the mover that the government would discuss and take up the issue with the concerned officials and seek an amicable solution to the problem.

On her call attention notice, Simeen Mehmood Jan of the PML-Q asked the government to withdraw the ban on tree-cutting, saying the restriction had only facilitated the timber mafia instead of the government.

Maulana Asmatullah from Kohistan endorsed the demand. He said the villagers depended on forests to make a living and added that the government had not given any incentives to them.

RESOLUTIONS: The house unanimously adopted seven resolutions, seeking early electrification of villages of Shangla and Buner, provision of gas to remote areas of Malakand, Swat, Swabi and Dera Ismail Khan, resumption of Saidu Sharif-Peshawar and Saidu Sharif-Islamabad PIA flights, restoration of Saidu Sharif airport for flights and installation of high-powered radio and TV boosters in Abbottabad.