LAHORE, Nov 20: Opposition in the Punjab Assembly on Monday gave a tough time to the treasury on the issues of dengue virus, distribution of zakat, excise and taxation, delay in start of sugarcane crushing by mills and black marketing of fertilizers.

Presided over by deputy speaker Shaukat Mazari, the house, however, could not complete its set agenda and postponed further proceedings for Tuesday due to the death of an assembly employee due to cardiac arrest.

The opposition also criticised the government for not extending any emergency services on the assembly premises. Had there been any prompt action, the life could have been saved, they said.

Arshad Bagoo of the opposition took the floor after proceedings began 45 minutes behind schedule and said steps taken by the government to deal with the dengue virus were unsatisfactory.

In the absence of health minister, parliamentary secretary for health Dr Farzana Nazir said she was shocked on the ignorance of the honourable member. She said the government had done more than required to fight the epidemic. “A number of patients has declined over the last some days, and fumigation has been done in almost all localities. An effective media campaign was also launched besides walks and seminars for creating awareness among people,” she added.

Opposition member Asghar Gujjar, on a point of order, said fertilizers were being black-marketed. He said some senior government officials, including the health secretary, had visited Britain to hire specialists for the Multan Institute of Cardialogy. “I can name over a dozen heart specialists from southern Punjab. They are capable of meeting any challenging job. Why the government is searching people from abroad?”

Present by that time, health minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed said there were some fields in which specialists were hard to find even in Pakistan, and what to talk about the southern Punjab.

Dr Wasim Akhtar of the opposition raised the issue of delay in cane crushing by sugar millowners, saying that it was an exploitation of farmers.

In the absence of the food minister, the chair directed agriculture minister Arshad Lodhi to answer the point of order, who told the house that sugar mills had assured the government of starting the crushing from Nov 25.

The deputy speaker added that it was an important issue related to thousands of farmers and their well being, and he directed the minister to resolve the matter at the earliest because it would also have a bad effect on Rabi crop.

Opposition member Syed Nazim Shah pointed out that Wapda was not cooperating with farmers with regard to electricity connections for tubewells.

The zakat and excise and taxation ministers were also quizzed by the opposition members on the issues of unequal distribution of zakat among districts and auction of registration numbers.

Rana Aftab raised an objection to the grant of extension to the working committee on women’s rights bill. “The committee has the bill with it for the last three days. I would like to know as to why they would always seek extension and when would they come up with something concrete.”

He said he would protest if the committee was granted another extension.