LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly which started pre-budget session on Monday soon lost quorum, forcing the chair to adjourn the house till Tuesday morning.

The house opened its afternoon session some 65 minutes late, at around 4:05pm. After spending a listless hour on questions regarding forestry and wildlife, it took up call attention notices and adjournment motions.

At around 5:45pm, provincial Minister for Finance Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman opened the debate on pre-budget proposals. Immediately after him, the law minister stood up to update the house on the Muzaffarghar incident, which he did for next 15 minutes when prayers’ time arrived at 6.15pm.

The house was adjourned for 20 minutes for prayers but the members took 50 minutes to reassemble.

When they returned, a member from the opposition pointed out quorum and it was found lacking with 52 members in the house.

The chair ordered ringing of the bells for next five minutes but only 15 more members returned and the house was well short of its required number of 93 members. The chair had no choice but to adjourn the house for Tuesday morning.

Earlier, the provincial minister explained the government priorities for the next budget saying that poverty alleviation, employment opportunities, food, energy, spending on health and education and promotion of private sector remained the guiding principles of the provincial government.

“The next budget will be part of three-year medium-term development strategy. The first year would set the platform and include targets for the next two years,” he said.