Daily Times

The National Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning ongoing Indian oppression against the people of Occupied Kashmir. The resolution called upon the UN and the international community to play their role to stop bloodshed and oppression in the Indian-held Kashmir by the Indian forces.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan moved the resolution on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day. The resolution also expressed the resolve to extend diplomatic and political support to the just freedom struggle of Kashmiris. The House also unanimously passed another resolution recommending the government to take measures for teaching of Quran with Urdu translation in all the universities and institutions of higher education affiliated with the federal government. The resolution was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan. He said it will enable students to have a better understanding of Quranic education.

The NA Session was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Asad Qaiser in which Minister Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan presented a resolution in this regard.

According to the text of the resolution, the Quran should be taught with translation in universities of those provinces which currently do not do so. The resolution says that reading the Urdu translation of Holy Quran would open new avenues of knowledge for the upcoming generations. The resolution was passed unanimously through the Assembly. It may be recalled that recently, Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan, decided to teach the Holy Quran with translation in its universities and imposed the condition of learning Quran with translation for obtaining a university degree.

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam called for use of modern technology in the agriculture sector to enhance per acre production and to boost economy of the country. Initiating debate on the Agriculture sector of the country in the National Assembly, he said quality seed of major crops like cotton, wheat, sugarcane and maize should be provided to farmers on subsidized rates to increase crop production.

He said use of quality seed with 80 percent germination capacity can enhance production of cotton bales from nine to fourteen billion in coming years. The Minister said entrepreneurs should be bound to manufacture pesticides and farm machinery in Pakistan in a given timeframe. He said transfer of technology is necessary to save money and enhance quality and production. He said focus should also be made on genetic engineering and health to boost livestock in the country. Taking part in the debate, Ali Gohar said farmers should be provided with cheap electricity and the government should take strict action against those sugar mills, which have procured sugarcane from farmers, but failed to pay their price.

Nawabzada Iftikhar Ahmed said the government should provide subsidy to farmers on seeds and fertilizers. He said strict action should be taken against elements involved in selling adulterated pesticides.

Malik Nawab Sher Waseer proposed establishment of an agriculture chamber for the development agriculture sector. He said farmers, agri experts, and other stakeholders should be given representation in the agriculture chamber. Several others parliamentarians took part in the discussion and suggested the government to take appropriate measures for enhance agriculture production, which is the only way for country development.