17 September 2004	Friday	01 Shaban 1425

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PESHAWAR, Sept 16: The NWFP Assembly on Thursday adopted as many as 10 resolutions, demanding supply of pesticides to farmers, posting of female teachers near their homes, provision of gas to residents of Tank and widening of G.T. Road from Hasanabdal to Gilgit.

The resolutions were tabled by Dr Zakirullah Khan, Muzaffar Said, Raja Faisal Zaman, Habibur Rehman and Sabira Shakir of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Rifat Akbar Swati and Israrullah Khan Gandapur of the Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao), Semeen Mehmood Jan of the PML-Q and leader of the opposition Shahzada Gustasap Khan.

Presenting his resolution, Dr Zakirullah said that fake pesticides were being sold in various parts of the province, which were posing a threat to farmers' lives.

He urged the government to ensure the availability of genuine pesticides in the markets. The house adopted the resolution unanimously. Provincial minister Faisal Zaman demanded that the government should provide water to the farmers of Ghazi tehsil and adjoining villages, as their lands had submerged under water from the reservoir of the Ghazi Barotha hydro project and its main canal. The house also adopted the resolution unanimously.

Through his resolution, Shahzada Gustasap Khan demanded that the federal government should construct a dual carriageway from Hasanabdal to Gilgit to facilitate heavy traffic on the G.T. Road. The house unanimously adopted the resolution and referred it to the federal government.

The assembly also adopted some other resolutions with a majority vote through which the members demanded appointment of teachers in Buner, construction of a residential colony for government employees in Peshawar, installation of a TV booster in Kalam and exemption of 125 intending pilgrims of the NWFP from the draw proposed by the federal government.

Former NWFP chief minister Sardar Inayatullah Khan Gandapur moved an adjournment motion seeking punitive action against police officials who raided the house of his supporter Fareedullah Khan Kathakhel in Dera Ismail Khan.

He said the raid was politically motivated and had nothing to do with any alleged criminal activities as claimed by the police officials. Almost all parliamentary groups leaders and some of the MMA lawmakers deplored the incident and urged the government to refer the motion to the concerned house committee.

However, Law Minister Ayaz Khan informed the house that police had raided the residence of Fareedullah Khan to arrest some proclaim offenders. On the assurance of a quick action by the law minister, the mover didn't press his motion.

The MMA lawmakers from Dir district criticized Education Minister Fazal-i-Ali Haqqani for making unjust transfers of middle school teachers in their areas. Amirzada Khan of the MMA tabled an adjournment motion, seeking early cancellation of the transfer of teachers. Mohammad Amin and Muzaffar Said supported his motion.

The education minister assured the house that if transfers were found to be unjust he would reverse the decision. He told the house that the MPAs and ministers forced him for the same, which was unfair. The mover didn't press the motion.

Winding up a debate on block allocation, Finance Minister Sirajul Haq informed the assembly that it was not a new phenomenon in the province. The Punjab government had allocated funds for the umbrella schemes, he added.

He appreciated the NWFP budget-makers, who, according him, had given a good budget to the people. The World Bank and the IMF had appreciated the provincial budget, he added.

The minister said the government wanted to develop all neglected areas of the province which had not been given much attention in the past. The government had allocated maximum funds to the health, education and social welfare sectors, he added.