LAHORE: Opposition Pakistan People’s Party has offered support to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf if it takes steps to make south Punjab a province.

PPP MPA Ali Haider Gilani told the Punjab Assembly on Saturday during a debate on the budget 2021-22 that his party was ready to support the government in the Punjab Assembly, National Assembly and Senate if it took steps to make south Punjab a province. He said the PTI had made a false promise with the people of the south that after coming to power it would make a province for them in 100 days.

Chiding the government, Gilani said it deprived 165 constituencies in Punjab of development funds during the last three years.

Three members Khalil Tahir Sindhu, Tariq Gill and Ramash Singh Aurora walked out of the House for not getting permission from the chair to speak.

PML-N lawmaker Sania Ashiq criticised the Buzdar government for presenting an anti-people budget.

Treasury members Ammar Saddique, Neelam Hayat, Nadeem Qureshi, Javed Akhtar and Mazhar Wasif took part in the budget debate. The speaker adjourned the session for Monday (tomorrow).

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2021