LAHORE: The opposition in Punjab Assembly has moved motions against establishment of authorities in various important provincial departments saying these have added to the confusion created by the new local body system.

It has also opposed withdrawal of subsidies from urea, DAP and other fertilisers.

Through an adjournment motion submitted by opposition leader Mian Mehmoodur Rashid to the assembly secretariat on Tuesday, it was stated that the government announced setting up district education, health and other authorities without clarifying whether the ongoing development schemes would be under the relevant department, district administration or local bodies.

To further confound the matter, 882 accounts under district coordination officers (DCOs) were closed for opening new accounts in the name of deputy commissioners (DCs) for development funds.

The DCs could not release funds until permission from district development boards, which had neither been set up nor their composition decided yet, it said.

The motion said just opening new accounts and transferring funds to them would take a couple of months, while formation of boards would take more time delaying release of funds for the ongoing development schemes causing their closure and thus upward revision in costs.

It estimated at least 4 per cent per month hike in the costs of around 3,009 schemes of education and 3,808 of health department causing loss to the kitty.

Through a resolution Mr Rashid opposed withdrawal of subsidy from fertilisers warning it would add Rs500 to Rs1,000 per bag price to the disadvantage of already exploited farming community.

The resolution demands that the federal government restore the subsidies.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2017