Both the treasury and opposition members criticized the closure of water supply lines and filtration plants in different areas of the province during the session of Punjab Assembly on Thursday.
As per the details, the MPAs were unanimous in demanding the clean water supply lines and the filtration plants for their constituencies. During the question-hour on Thursday that was related to the department of Housing, Public Health Engineering and Urban Development, the PPP lawmaker from Rahim Yar Khan Makhdoom Usman demanded a committee under the supervision of law minister to resolve the matter of water supply lines on urgent basis.
Parliamentary Secretary Malik Taimoor Masud answered the queries of MPAs for the first time in the House who was also appreciated by the Panel of Chairman Mian Shafi Muhammad who was chairing the session. The parliamentary secretary said that the government is working on the priority basis to restore the damaged water supply lines and all will be completed soon. “As many as 662 water supply lines in Punjab are not functioning as the last government didn’t pay any attention towards this issue but we are working to address it,” said Malik Taimoor. He was of the view that the government will install 65 water supply lines in the first stage in South Punjab and then they will come in the Central Punjab. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N MPA Sadia Taimoor said that there are 573 water filtration plants in Lahore and most of them are not functional due to the apathy of the government. A government ally MPA Abdullah Warraich also said that the water supply lines must be built on urgent basis as most of them are out of order. PPP’s MPA Makhdoom Usman said that the government departments do not own these water supply lines as the local government department says it comes in the ambit of Public Health Department, which says it is the responsibility of the Local Government. He asked the chair to resolve this grave issue on an urgent basis.
Later, talking about the performance of Punjab Food Authority, minister for Food Samiullah Chaudhry said that the PFA inspected 3488 hotels and restaurants in just one year and 29 were sealed while 288 were imposed with heavy fines. He further added that he will not compromise on the adulteration and he will resign if the adulteration mafia goes unchecked. “There is not a single case where any restaurant or hotel was de-sealed within the 72 hours of sealing,” said the food minister. The PFA has 10 years of maximum imprisonment and fine of up to one million against the adulteration mafia as the government is working tirelessly in this regard. The claim of food minister was refuted by PML-N MPA Waris Kallu who said that each and every edible item is adulterated in the Punjab and the minister is narrating all good stories. He should not make a tall claim of resignation on floor of the house as it can be problematic for him, said the PML-N MPA. The session was later adjourned to meet again on Friday morning.