ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani apologised in the National Assembly on Monday for the absence of Education Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani when a lawmaker expressed dissatisfaction with the minister’s written reply to question and the statement made by Minister of State Ghulam Farid Kathia on his behalf on the performance of the Higher Education Commission..

Speaking during the question-hour, Prime Minister Gilani said that answering the parliamentarians’ questions was the collective responsibility of the cabinet.

“There is no excuse,” Mr Gilani said.

“All responsible people should respond (satisfactorily) to (legislators’) questions,” Mr Gilani said.

The minister of state requested MNAs Yasmeen Rehman and Hamayun Saifullah Khan to submit fresh questions because the HEC was without a permanent head at present and Adviser to Prime Minister on Social Sector Shahnaz Wazir Ali had been recently appointed as its acting chairman.

Criticising the minister of state, Mr Gilani said: “I apologise … and assure your that it will not happen again.”

Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza endorsed prime minster’s views and said that prompt response to lawmakers’ queries was the collective responsibility of the cabinet.

The industries minister informed the house that the price of RBD palm oil had declined by 56 per cent in December and the average prices of loose-packed ghee and tin-packed edible oil had dropped in December by 26.6 per cent.

He reiterated the government’s policy not to privatise Pakistan Steel Mills, which had earned Rs43 billion during 2007-08 and spent Rs40 billion.

The house was informed that the federal government and provincial governments had decided to introduce new curriculum from 2009 and that the new curriculum for 24 subjects had so far been notified.