LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Wednesday passed the Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess Bill 2026 amid a stormy sitting marked by repeated quorum issues, sharp exchanges between treasury and opposition benches, and serious concerns over low wages and prisons overcrowding.

The session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, began with a delay of 55 minutes and opened with prayers for martyred Lt Col Khalid Hussain.

Lawmakers then took up the Question Hour related to the Zakat and Ushr Department, where the speaker expressed shock over the reported monthly salary of just Rs20,240 for clerical staff, terming it a violation of basic human rights.

“Even if an employee works for a few minutes, such a meager salary is unacceptable,” the speaker remarked, questioning how workers could sustain their families. He referred the matter to the relevant committee, directing that a detailed report be presented in the next session. Parliamentary Secretary Malik Iftikhar Ahmad noted that some employees attend duties only a few days a month, but the speaker maintained that such low wages could not be justified under any circumstances.

Over 71,000 inmates in Punjab jails, against a capacity of 38,000, assembly told

During the proceedings, lawmaker Amjad Ali Javed highlighted the plight of low-paid clerks, warning that such conditions could lead to corruption. Other members also called for better financial support mechanisms, including educational assistance for underprivileged students.

The House was also informed that Punjab’s prisons are operating far beyond their capacity. PML-N lawmaker Tahira Mushtaq revealed that against a capacity of 38,000 inmates, more than 71,000 prisoners are currently lodged in jails across the province. She cited Adiala Jail as an example, where over 8,000 inmates are housed against a capacity of just over 2,100.

Officials acknowledged the issue, stating that new prisons are under construction to ease the situation in the prisons of the province.

Opposition members repeatedly pointed out a lack of quorum, forcing the chair to order bell ringing on multiple occasions. The session resumed after intervals but continued to face attendance issues. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman criticised the opposition for wasting the House’s time and deviating from agenda items.

Despite the disruptions, the House passed the Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess Bill 2026, presented by the minister, rejecting all opposition amendments.

Later, the session was adjourned until Thursday afternoon, after quorum could not be completed despite repeated attempts by the treasury benches.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026