KARACHI, Feb 9: The Sindh Assembly passed a resolution on Monday calling upon the provincial government to approach the Centre to ensure that Pasco and TCP purchase rice from rice growers in Sindh at such a price so that paddy growers could get the fixed price of Rs700 per 40kg.

The resolution, moved by Muawwar Ali Abbasi, was adopted unanimously.

Earlier, Agriculture Minister Syed Ali Nawaz Shah informed the House that they wanted to save paddy growers from losses and in this regard the Sindh government had met the officials of Pakistan Agriculture Supplies and Storage Corporation (Pasco).

Pasco did not purchase directly, but an agreement was there between the Pasco and rice mills owners who bought paddy. Pasco purchased A-quality rice at the rate of Rs1400 per 40 kg and B-quality rice at the rate of Rs1200 per 40kg, he said.

He said that in Sindh there were over 300 purchasing centres of Pasco.

He said that the federal and the Sindh governments wanted that growers should get reasonable prices.

Regarding the complaints of absence of fertilisers, the agriculture minister said that he could provide details of supply of fertilisers in every district of the province where 150,000 tons of fertilisers had been provided to meet growers’ requirement.

Supporting the resolution, Nadir Magsi, Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Masroor Khan Jatoi, Heer Soho, Rukhsana Shah and other members termed the resolution appropriate and need of the hour.

They also pointed out that during the last session Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah had given his assurance to the House that if Pasco would not purchase paddy, the Sindh government would purchase it on rates fixed by the government.

The House deferred two bills — number 2 and 3 of 2009 introduction and consideration — to Feb 12 which pertained to the Sindh Public Procurement Bill, 2009 and Colonisation of Government Lands (Amendment) Bill, 2009.

The House also approved the nomination of MPA Humera Alwani as a representative of Sindh in the Nursing Council of Pakistan, and four Sindh MPAs in the board of governors of the Sindh Coal Authority, unanimously.

They are MPAs Sherjeel Memon, Nawab Taimur Talpur, Mir Hayat Talpur and Pertab Singh.

Earlier, the issue which lighted up the drab proceedings of the House was the live coverage of assembly proceedings by private TV channels.

The point was raised by Sherjeel Memon who asked the chair to give a ruling on whether some private channels were allowed to telecast live coverage.

He said that in the National Assembly only PTV was allowed to cover the proceedings.

Responding to the point of order, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that there was no ban in the rules on live TV coverage of assembly proceedings, and in fact, if any private TV channel was covering the live proceedings of the assembly, it must be appreciated.

He said that “we should express our gratitude to TV channels for covering assembly proceedings and taking it to each and every home in the province so that people could watch what their elected representatives are doing in the assembly”.

The member again raised the issue and asked for the ruling.

The chair pointed out that only PTV had permission, and if any other TV channel wanted to telecast live coverage, it could get it from PTV.

Information Minister Shazia Marri said that they did not allow directly and it depended on the assembly secretariat.“However, it is assumed that when the secretariat gives passes to journalists and cameramen, it is a sort of permission and there is no ban on allowing direct coverage in the rules,” she said adding that “therefore, it makes no difference. In fact it improve the performance of the assembly”.

When Mr Sherjeel said that he had no objection to direct coverage by private TV channels, and was only interested in knowing whether permission was granted or not, the law minister said there was no need to make it an issue.

When the House was discussing the issue and was being reassured by the information and law ministers, some staff of the Secretariat removed cables of private TV channels and asked the cameramen to vacate the press gallery.

That irked members of the press gallery, and they came out in protest and staged a sit-in on the stairs of the assembly entrance where journalists’ representatives delivered speeches, saying that the Pakistan People’s Party had struggled with journalists for the freedom of the press, but some people wanted to give a bad name to the government.

They demanded action against those responsible for removing the cables of TV cameras.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Shazia Marri also came to the protesting journalists and assured them of her full cooperation.

On her assurance, the journalists ended their protest and returned to the House.

She also gave an assurance on the floor of the House that the government had no objection to TV direct coverage.

Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq also endorsed the views of the information minister.

Syed Faisal Sabzwari, the deputy parliamentary leader of the MQM, condemned the incident of severing TV camera cables and said those found responsible should be taken to task.

The law minister also asked the TPO to launch an inquiry.

Saleem Khurshid Khokhar referred to the issue of YMCA, but Syed Sardar Ahmad denied the impression that any religious building was being planned in the ground.

On Monday, the House was called to order at 11.45am by Deputy Speaker Syed Shehla Raza who called it a day at 2.30pm to meet again on Feb 11, Wednesday, which would be treated as a private members day in lieu of Tuesday, which was a public holiday on account of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s Urs.On the occasion Minister of Culture Sassui Palejo paid tribute to Shah Latif Bhittai.