LAHORE, Nov 25: Punjab Assembly opposition leader Qasim Zia said on Tuesday the cabinet expansion would only burden the exchequer and not help solve problems of the common man.

At a news conference here, the provincial president of the PPP said a minister would cost the kitty around Rs400,000 a month in salary and allowances and as the number of ministers had exceeded 40, their monthly expenditure could be well calculated.

He said some new portfolios had been created only to accommodate ministers.

Qasim Zia was of the view that the cabinet expansion was aimed at ensuring quorum in the assembly session. In his opinion as more than 50 per cent of the ruling party legislators had been made ministers, parliamentary secretaries or chairmen of the standing committees, the assembly would not run out of quorum if all of them were present.

He disputed the official claims that the Punjab Assembly had enacted a record legislation during its first year in office. The opposition leader said enforcement of the law was more important than fresh legislation.

In his opinion the government’s performance was quite disappointing if enforcement was made the yardstick.

Qasim Zia said the provincial legislature had banned sale of cigarettes to underage children. But everybody knew to what extent was the law being adhered to.

Same was the situation of the ban on the wedding meals. The law was being flouted without compunction, he alleged.

He said the PPP would not approach the PPP-Patriots MPAs to win back their support at a time they felt disenchanted with the ruling party after being left out of the cabinet.

Qasim Zia said those who had joined hands with the ruling party were turncoats for which the party had no place in its ranks.