Daily Times

Provincial minister for Labour and Human Resource Ansar Majeed Niazi admitted that the labourers are not being given the minimum wage set by the government in the factories. He revealed it while speaking on floor of the House on Friday during the question-hour. I admit that there are weaknesses in departments but it does not mean they are sitting idle and we are not making efforts to make the departments more viable and strengthened, he said. Earlier, the House proceedings started with laps of two hours and 23 minutes from its scheduled time with deputy speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari in the chair.

Ansar Majeed Niazi was answering the queries put by the treasury and opposition lawmakers during the question-hour. “There is no comprehensive process of registering workers in factories so we are spreading awareness to make the way easier in which we could be able to register data of workers”, the minister said. No doubt our departments are weak and we are making tireless efforts to make them more viable, he added. In reply to a query, he vowed that the government is going to distribute health cards to the retired workers also.

PML-N MPA Hina Pervez Butt claimed that there is not even a single factory where the labourers are given wages in light of the wages fixed by the government. To which the minister admitting it added that the corruption cannot be eradicated forcefully. He said no doubt no factory in the province is paying in accordance with the wages fixed by the government. However, he vowed that they are introducing legislation through which the matter will be resolved soon. Applauding opposition’s role, he minister said that the suggestions of the opposition used to be thrown into dustbins in the past but now the time has changed adding it is PTI led government that honoured the suggestions of the opposition.

Responding to the query of PPP’s parliamentary leader Syed Hassan Murtaza about introducing comprehensive policy on labourers’ hospitals and colonies, the provincial minister claimed that around 3million registration of labourers should have been made in 2018 but it is the failure of the concerned department that could not do as. However, he ensured the House that the work is being done on it. PPP’s Hassan Murtaza also criticized the Buzdar-led government for ruining the Lahore as he said that this city is inundated today due to rain water despite the fact that the condition of Lahore was much better in the past as compared to now. After completing the agenda items, the House was adjourned by Monday at 2pm.

Moreover, Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi inaugurated the newly constructed mosque of the assembly on Friday. The rare unity was seen between the treasury and opposition benches during the inauguration of the mosque. Leader of the opposition Hamza Shehbaz, Law Minister Raja Basharat, Deputy Speaker Dost Muhammad Mazari, parliamentary leader of PPP Hassan Murtaza, parliamentary leader of Rah e Haq Party Maulana Muavia Azam and MPAs Samiullah Khan, Maulana Ilyas Chinioti and Secretary Punjab Assembly Muhammad Khan Bhatti were also present on the occasion. Speaker Elahi paid his gratitude to all the MPAs for generously contributing in the construction of new mosque having a capacity of 500 people. He also vowed to complete the new building of Punjab Assembly by November 3 this year.