He was responding to a call attention notice moved by Mehmood Hayat Tochi Khan and others on Friday against increase in the power charges of Agriculture tube-well by Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO). The Minister informed the House that MEPCO had requested the growers to install meters as allowed by Nepra, but the federal government did not allow the company.
He said the government is also giving seventy-five paisa per unit subsidy to the agricultural tube-wells in the off peak hours power use. The Minister said that MEPCO is playing an important role in promoting agriculture and government realises that Multan is 'Fruit Basket' of the country with 83,000 tube-wells out of 237,000 in the country.
He said that previous government had allowed only five tube-wells per constituency. "But we allowed 87,000 in Multan which speaks of government commitment for agriculture development," he said. He informed the House that he himself has given 81,000 priority tube-well connections during the last two years.
The National Assembly approved the Institute of Space Technology Bill 2009 with a majority vote. Mehreen Anwar Raja, Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs presented the bill clause by clause in the house. No amendment was suggested from any side and the house passed the bill with majority vote.
Engineer Amir Muqam of PML-Q on a point of order said that people of Swat have witnessed worst form of terrorism after Taliban as present regime deprived them of right to vote. He demanded re-election in Swat and Mansehra under the supervision of Pakistan Army. He lambasted the government for pre-poll and post-poll rigging during bye-elections in Swat and delay in announcement of result in Mansehra.
The elections staff of their choice was appointed at 78 polling stations out of total 80 where provincial ministers and other leaders of the ruling alliance stamped whole copies of ballot papers in their favour. When a presiding officer refused to give the copy of ballot papers these were snatched on gun point. PML-N leader Tehmina Daultana on a point of order called upon the government to review its foreign policy and avoid getting dollars compromising sovereignty, integrity and dignity of the country.
She said that the government should stop fighting war against terrorism as it is war of America not of Pakistan. She said that the United States trying to negotiate with Taliban while we are not ready to talk to our own people to shun differences and work for peace. Daultana expressed dismay over presence of Pakistani Ambassador in US Court during the hearing of Dr Aafia Siddiqui saying that Pakistani envoy has checked physical condition of Dr Aafia and the treatment meted to her. But even then Pakistan is giving VIP treatment to five detained Americans, she maintained.
Gul Muhammad of PPP on a point of order targeted Punjab for construction of a dam on Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal saying that this is an attempt for desertification of Sindh. He said that in early 70s an agreement was signed between chief ministers of Sindh and Punjab to respect the rights of each other. But now Punjab is constructing a water reservoir on this canal to deprive people of Sindh from water.
Shahid Khaqan Abbassi moved a privilege motion saying that member planning of the CDA in a statement said that CDA had allotted plots to Parliamentarians but they are pressing the CDA to allot them plots in the developed sector of I-8. He said that no Parliamentarian was given any plot in any sector so that matter should be investigated as it is insult of the entire Parliament.
Minister for Manpower Khurshid Shah responding to this motion said that having a plot is right of the parliamentarians. When army generals, judges and journalists get plots why not parliamentarians. Speaker Fehmida Mirza referred the motion to Standing Committee on Privilege.
Abid Sher Ali, PML-N MNA has moved a privilege motion in the house pleading that CDA has declared him defaulter for a flat, which he never possessed nor he gave any application for its allotment. He demanded thorough probe in this matter. Speaker Fehmida Mirza referred the motion to Standing Committee on Privilege.