LAHORE, Sept 30: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday took a serious notice of the adjournment of Punjab assembly session because of lack of quorum, reprimanding his cabinet members for their failure to maintain it.

Presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet, the chief minister expressed his anger over the ministers’ failure to maintain quorum in the assembly, official sources informed Dawn. The sources said this was for the first time that the chief minister had taken a strong notice of the lack of quorum in the provincial assembly.

Mr Elahi reportedly said the opposition could not have the opportunity to point out the short quorum on Friday had every minister ensured the presence of at least two treasury MPAs in the house. This showed their lack of interest in the assembly proceedings, the chief minister was quoted as having told the ministers.

He told the ministers that the failure to maintain quorum in the house was not good for the treasury benches. It was the primary responsibility of the ministers to make all treasury MPAs attend the session, he added.

The sources said the chief minister had also held a meeting with the speaker and law minister over the issue on Friday

Meanwhile, the cabinet approved amendments to the Punjab Land Revenue Act 1966, allowing computerization of the land revenue record and introducing an on-line related service for people as a result.

The meeting was informed that as a result of the computerization, people would have a free-of-cost on-line access to the land revenue record. A computerised center would be established in every Qanoongoi circle from where an applicant would get copies of the required document within 30 minutes.

The chief minister said the Rs3.5 billion computerisation project would resolve 90 per cent problems of the people in Punjab regarding the sale and purchase of property.

The computerisation would not only curb the trend of preparing fake revenue documents, but also help people get rid of patwaris and corruption in the revenue department. It would also facilitate farmers and all citizens in obtaining loans from financial institutions.

The chief minister directed the officials concerned to complete the project within three instead of the specified five years.

While deputing all cabinet ministers to supervise the efforts to control prices in specified districts, he asked them to ensure action against profiteers and hoarders, and visit Sasta Ramazan Bazaars in various cities.

He said the government had given Rs2.17 billion subsidy for providing wheat flour, sugar and pulses to about one million people in the province at lower rates. It would be ensured that the poor get maximum benefit of the scheme.

The meeting was informed that so far 890,000 people had been issued coupons to purchase low-price items after their registration under the Sasta Ration Scheme.

The chief minister appreciated the provincial ombudsman’s office for its efforts for providing justice and relief to the common people.

He said the government would welcome ombudsman’s proposals about improvement in the working of all departments with regard to the resolution of people’s problems.

Punjab Ombudsman Abdur Rashid Khan presented annual report of his office. He informed the meeting that over 10,000 complaints were disposed off during the previous year.

The cabinet appreciated the pace of recruitments made by the Punjab Public Service Commission last year after its Chairman Tariq Sultan submitted the annual report.

The chief minister agreed with PPSC chairman that all provincial departments’ heads should timely submit error-free requisitions for recruitments for getting better results.