August 20, 2008	Wednesday	Sha’aban 17, 1429

LAHORE, Aug 19: A Punjab Assembly member from the opposition benches has submitted an adjournment motion, asking the government to write off loans of flood-hit farmers and give them interest-free loans.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Zobia Rubab Malik has pointed out that a rice crisis is in the offing in the country, as rice crop on thousands of acres has been destroyed by floods in Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Okara, Vehari and Kasur. She said the government should not only ban rice export, but also ban import of the commodity to eliminate the possibility of black-marketing. She sought immediate steps to keep the rice prices under control in Ramzan.

The MPA has called for a survey of the damages caused by the flood to the crops and the livestock and submission of a plan to the provincial assembly on the rehabilitation of the affected farmers.