LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday witnessed strong concern over the collapse of a school roof in Dera Ghazi Khan that claimed the lives of four children, while the provincial government defended its health sector performance amid criticism from both treasury and opposition lawmakers during the Question Hour.

Treasury MPA Ahmad Laghari demanded strict action over the tragic incident in Dera Ghazi Khan, saying four children died after a school roof caved in. He urged the government to ensure the harshest possible punishment if negligence was found behind the incident.

Defending the government’s healthcare initiatives, Health Minister Khwaja Imran Nazeer claimed that 19,000 community health centres had been established across Punjab. He said digital tablets had been provided to women field workers and stressed that healthcare facilities were being extended to constituencies without discrimination between government and opposition lawmakers.

The minister informed the house that Punjab would recruit 3,000 doctors who would not be allowed transfers during the initial phase of service. He said the doctors’ performance would be monitored through key performance indicators (KPIs) after one year, warning that contracts of non-performing doctors would not be extended.

Treasury MPA for action over children’s death in DGK school; House passes bills on protection of ownership of immovable property, ST on services

He also acknowledged the severe shortage of burn specialists in the province, admitting that burn patients faced serious difficulties in accessing treatment. He pledged that the government aimed to establish fully functional burn units at district headquarters hospitals.

Opposition members strongly criticised the state of public healthcare. Opposition lawmaker Zarnab Sher protested over the unavailability of medicines in government hospitals, claiming she possessed prescriptions proving medicines were unavailable in DHQ hospitals.

PPP MPA Shazia Abid questioned whether the health department was as serious as the minister himself, pointing out that even the health secretary was absent from the session.

The session also featured complaints regarding poor facilities at dispensaries in Bagrian and deteriorating conditions at THQ hospitals.

Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan urged the government to focus on establishing a trauma centre in Attock due to the high number of accidents in the district. He also remarked that the condition of THQ hospitals in areas like Kanganpur was alarming.

Meanwhile, the assembly unanimously passed a resolution paying tribute to martyred army officer Captain Faraz Ilyas, who hailed from Kasur and embraced martyrdom along with six soldiers in a terrorist attack. The resolution praised the sacrifices of security personnel and proposed renaming his native village after him to preserve the memory of the martyrs for future generations.

The house approved several bills, including amendments relating to protection of ownership of immovable property, legal aid, sales tax on services, registration laws, land revenue, establishment of high-security zones, and Waqf trusts and cooperative societies monitoring.

Earlier, treasury lawmaker Ahmed Iqbal Chaudhry raised the issue of the death of sanitary workers in Faisalabad allegedly caused by toxic gas while cleaning a sewer line without safety equipment.

The speaker termed the incident tragic and called for a thorough investigation.

Towards the end of proceedings, opposition member Chaudhry Naeem pointed out a lack of quorum. After repeated bells failed to ensure the required attendance, the deputy speaker adjourned the session until Monday afternoon. He announced that Monday’s sitting would be a special session dedicated exclusively to a general discussion on “Marka-i-Haq”.

Meanwhile, the third Punjab Inclusive Governance Summit 2026 was held at the Old Assembly Hall, where lawmakers, minority representatives and civil society members discussed inclusive governance, minority participation and the proposed Christian Marriage Bill 2026.

Speakers highlighted government initiatives aimed at improving minority rights, welfare schemes and educational opportunities.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026