LAHORE, Nov 22: The Punjab Assembly adopted on Tuesday with a consensus a resolution seeking permission for prisoners undergoing long confinement to meet their wives in jails at least thrice a year.

The resolution was tabled by MMA’s Dr Wasim Akhtar which was not opposed by the law minister or any other member of the house.

He wanted amendment to the rules and implementation of the proposal in phases if it was not possible to adopt it all over the province.

The house also adopted with a consensus another resolution tabled by PPP’s Samiullah Khan asking the provincial government to recommend to the federal government to direct all national banks to facilitate loaning under different schemes in all the under-developed areas of major cities in the province.

Earlier, the house kept pending a resolution tabled also by MMA’s Dr Akhtar seeking abolition of the entrance test in the Lahore’s UET and all medical colleges as health minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed said the matter was subjudice. The Supreme Court was taking cognizance of the matter and the province would take a decision after its verdict after Dec 5, he said.

Dr Akhtar said the system had promoted corruption and was denying talented students admission to medical colleges or the UET.

MMA’s Arshad Baggu and PML-N’s Dr Asad Ashraf praised former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif for eliminating ‘booti’ mafia and introducing the entrance test which, they said, was immaculate. It had now been corrupted and should be improved, they said.

The minister assured the house that anybody found indulging in malpractice would not be spared. Selected papers of the candidates who appeared for the recently held test had been sent to the Aga Khan University by the Supreme Court for independent evaluation and a report would be submitted to the court on Dec 5.

The house kept pending a resolution filed by Uzma Bukhari of the PPP seeking an increase in the Dowry Fund from the existing Rs5,000 per girl to Rs25,000 as Baitul Maal Minister Ejaz Shafi said the amount had been increased to Rs10,000 besides doubling funds for the purpose. It would further be increased, he said.

Many members opposed the resolution and said dowry was un-Islamic and it should be discouraged whereas Ms Uzma and some others said it was necessary and the government should instead control wasteful expenditure on marriages mainly by the influential people.