Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly speaker Mushtaq Ghani on Wednesday admitted for debate concerns regarding disbursement of development funds in 2013-18 after the issue was raised by several lawmakers.
A number of opposition members termed as unjust distribution of development funds in KP during the 2013-18 term, prompting the speaker to admit the matter for debate. Earlier, MMA lawmaker Inayat Ullah drew the attention of the house towards the matter during question hour.
He said that the august house should debate disbursement of funds since 2013-2018, prompting the treasury benches to admit the question for debate.
Another question of Inayat Ullah was referred to the committee concerned because he was not satisfied with the reply received from the health department. His question was concerned with Universal Healthcare Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals.
A question raised by Shagufta Malik of Awami National Party (ANP) was also taken for discussion following her concerns regarding appointments of PMS, PCS and PAS officers in different departments.
The establishment department in a written reply stated that government servants are insured with State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan.
Health Minister Hisham Inamullah urged his department’s employees to discharge their duties efficiently and warned that stern action would be taken against delinquents.
Lather, the KP Assembly unanimously adopted KP Employees of Transport Department Regularization Bill 2018; Education Employees Foundation Bill 2018; and Employees of Elementary and Secondary Education Department (Appointment and Regularization of Services) (Amendment) Bill 2018.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Wednesday reassured the opposition as well as treasury benches that stern action would be taken against bureaucrats who fail to reply to legislators’ questions.
The Chief Minister aired his reservations after a response received on a question raised by PPP lawmaker Nighat Aurakzai was deemed insufficient.
He maintained that he considered the opposition a part of the government and assured that he would take serious notice of bureaucrats not taking lawmakers’ questions with responsibility. Speaker Mushtaq Ghani also expressed his serious reservations by saying that bureaucrats did not obey and reply on the day of assembly proceedings.
Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Friday following a ruckus started by some opposition and treasury lawmakers.
Published in Daily Times, December 27th 2018.