Punjab Assembly Recommends Govt To Make Payment To Ease Journalists

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jan, 2019 ) :The Punjab Assembly through an unanimously adopted resolution Thursday recommended the Federal government to make conditional payment to media houses on account of advertisements for payment of salaries to journalists.

Moved by the Provincial Minister for Public Prosecution Chaudhry Zaheerud Din Khan, the resolution expressed grave concern over the mass scale retrenchment of media workers. It urged the federal government to take stock of the plights of media workers who lost their jobs and spending miserable life.

Earlier today, the ninth sitting of the sixth session of the current assembly was started an hour and 39 minutes behind its schedule time with Speaker Pervaiz Elahi in the chair.

Some 45 lawmakers were present at the outset of the sitting.

Leader of the Opposition Hamza Shehbaz Sharif did not attend the sitting.

Soon after the recitation from the holy Quran, Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Muhammad Basharat Raja moved a supplementary resolution and the House skipping the scheduled agenda offered prayers for the late MPA Mazhar Abbas Raan.

During Question-Hour, Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare/ Specialized education Punjab Dr Yasmin Rashid replying to queries by lawmakers regarding her ministry told the Punjab Assembly that an exclusive incentives package was being offered to those medical teachers and doctors who had left the country for better salaries, and they were being convinced to come back to the country.

She said, the Health department was acquiring land for construction of five new hospitals, and the provincial government was swiftly accomplishing projects in the health sector, even those initiated by the previous government.

"Concrete steps have been taken for provision of most advanced health facilities to commoners in all government hospitals," she added.

Dr Yasmin said, under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan's 'New Pakistan', European style healthcover was being implemented in hospitals.

The Health Minister maintained that the age limit for retirement of doctors and other medical officers had been enhanced to 65 years.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Muhammad Basharat Raja responded to a call attention notice regarding murder in Dera Ghazi Khan. He also responded to an adjournment motion regarding increase in road mishaps owing to electronic advertisement boards in Lahore.

On completion of day's agenda, the Chair adjourned the sitting to meet again on January 18, (Friday) at 9 a.m.