Punjab Health Minister Tahir Ali Javed apprising the assembly of relief efforts by Punjab government said that government hospitals in the province have so far treated 6,750 patients out of total 8,500 admitted. He told that 41 ambulances, 250 health workers, 120 doctors, 41 paramedical teams, 110 nurses of Punjab were involved in relief operations, providing medical assistance to tremor struck people.
Provincial assembly member Ehsan Ullah Waqas addressing the House asked government to frame new construction laws. He said it was a pity that Rs 30 million worth bullet-proof cars were bought when seismic life saving gadgetry that cost hardly Rs one million was not purchased.
He also posed question on arrival of Nato military detachments for relief operation.
Rana Sana Ullah opposition MPA asked the government to hand over relief work to NGOs and keep only monitoring of relief operations with it. Tanvir Kaira MPA asked the government to buy helicopters instead of F16's and ambulances instead of nuclear bombs.
Muhammad Basharat Raja Provincial Law & Local Government Minister speaking in question hour replying to query by opposition legislators regarding Katchi Abadis said that government duly recognised Katchi Abadis established before March 23, 1985.
The minister said provincial government will speed up the process of awarding proprietary rights to Katchi Abadis and will make out all efforts to remove any hurdle in this connection. He told that Katchi Abadis owned by provincial government, proprietary rights would be given as soon as possible.
Deputy Leader of Opposition Rana Sana Ullah Khan speaking on the occasion said that bureaucracy was creating hurdles in allotment of proprietary rights to Katchi Abadi dwellers.
Replying to a query with regard to Katchi Abadis by opposition benches, Basharat said that funds were available with the government for launching of development work in some of Katchi settlements in Faisalabad including Rafiqueabad, but the work could not commence because of disputes and the matter pending before courts, he added.
Replying to a question the minister told that NOC was not issued by a department for Gharibabad of Faisalabad, therefore there was delay in development work in the locality. The minister assured that that provincial government was vigorously pursuing the matter and would start work at the earliest.
Punjab law minister answering a question of opposition MPA Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas whereby he urged the provincial government to withdraw community centres under private custody, using government facilities or at least charge them for their using the centre facility said that there were 67 community centres in Lahore set up at Local Government and Rural Development Department, District Councils and PWD establishments, out of which only 14 centres were in private use, he added.
He told that 24 community centres were being used for public welfare activities, two for the offices of union councils, while 13 have been given to the social welfare department. He said neither of the centres had so far been given to NGOs.
The minister stated that there was separate directorate dealing with affairs of local government, but could not resolve the issue of proprietary rights of Katchi Abadis besides a decision in 1985 to grant such rights, he added.
Basharat answering a question on bad state of roads in Green Town and Township said that since 1994-95 Lahore Development Authority had been given responsibility for their improvement, and they were making efforts in that direction .The House was prorogued indefinitely later by the Chair.