25 April 2004	Sunday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

QUETTA, April 24: Balochistan Assembly on Saturday adopted a resolution, moved by Agriculture Minister Maulana Faizullah, demanding the federal government to legislate on the rights of plant breeders in consultation with the provincial assembly.

The minister has demanded that the federal government should formulate a law in consonance with article 144 of the Constitution to protect the rights of the plant breeders.

He had also demanded that the law should be formulated in consultation with the Balochistan Assembly.

Health Minister Hafiz Hamadullah tabled Balochistan Private Hospital Regulatory Bill, 2004, that was unanimously exempted from section 84 of the Rules of Business of Balochistan Assembly, 1974.

The bill is aimed at regulating establishment, accreditation, licensing and supervision of private hospitals in the province.

Hafiz Hamadullah said that the bill envisages constitution of hospital regulatory boards at district level to ensure minimum prescribed standard regarding physical and technical facilities required to be provided in private hospitals.

Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar, presiding over the session, rejected an adjournment motion tabled by Shah Zaman Rind of the National Alliance relating to the non-provision of bulldozers in the flood-affected areas of Bolan district.

Senior Minister Maulana Abdul Wasay, replying to a question during question hour, said that the federal government had released Rs1 billion to the province for rehabilitation of drought-affected people.

He said that Rs650m would be spent through MPAs, whereas Rs350 million would be allocated for drought control schemes.

Opposition members, belonging to Jamhoori Watan Party, PMAP, National Party, BNP-Mengal and PPP staged a walkout from the House when the chair was reluctant to adjust during the current session the questions that were not answered during the session held on April 22.

The session was later adjourned till Tuesday.