LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly continued to discuss problems of the farming community in the province for the second day here on Wednesday.

However, it remained inconclusive as the chair in a rare move did not allow the agriculture minister to wind up the debate, citing very thin presence of members.

The start of the debate was also abrupt as Speaker Rana Iqbal dropped two bills, which were to be considered, from the agenda apparently because Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was not present in the house to move the motions.

The first eight speakers, who had given their names for participation in the discussion, were also absent when the debate began.

It made the opposition to protest. Opposition leader Mahmoodur Rasheed, who had returned to house after a walkout along with his colleagues for not being allowed to speak on certain issues during the Question Hour, wondered why the chair readjusted the agenda items without notifying the change to the members.

That’s why, he said, the likely participants were missing, thinking their turn would be after around an hour of legislative business.

Interestingly, Agriculture Minister Dr Farukh Javed and the agriculture secretary were also not present when the debate was initiated.

But, the time consumed by the opposition leader to protest the out-of-schedule start of the open debate provided the minister, who was sitting in his chamber, enough time to reach the house.

PML-N’s Tariq Bajwa lamented that despite the government assurance the CPR (cane procurement receipt) was not being given the status of a cheque, giving a free hand to the sugar mills owners to exploit the growers by delaying payment of their dues for months and even years.

He also criticised the tax-free farm imports from India to the disadvantage of the local farmers and devising a subsidy for rice and cotton growers that was benefiting only the middle man.

He demanded setting up of a parliamentary commission to report within two months problems of the farming community and recommend the solutions.

Mr Rasheed lauded Mr Bajwa for raising the issue and assured him support of all the opposition parties for the proposed commission.

Asif Bajwa, another treasury MPA, complained that the farm tools being imported from India were of poor quality and developed faults within months.

Independent MPA Ahsan Fatayana lamented “inconsistent” government policies and protested import of what he said B grade wheat while halting local procurement of the commodity.

Similarly, he regretted that supply of Indian wheat to Afghanistan was allowed at the cost of local produce.

PML-N’s Sheikh Alauddin wondered why some members were seeking institution of a parliamentary commission which, he said, would be devoid of any powers.

He negated the government’s claims that 80 percent of the sugar millers had paid the cane growers and said that a certain mill owed Rs1 billion to the growers from his home district Kasur.

Jamaat-i-Islami’s Dr Waseem Akhtar suggested disposing of the wheat stock before arrival of new crop.

He also pointed out trade imbalance between Pakistan and India and vehemently supported construction of Kalabagh dam terming it only viable solution for the provision of irrigation water to 6.6 million acres in Cholistan.

He said if the chief minister could hold talks with the protesting employees of PIA why he could not play a role in negotiations with the provinces opposed to the KBD.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016

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