LAHORE, June 23: In the absence of ministers, general discussion on the 2008-09 budget continued in the morning session of the Punjab Assembly for the fourth day on Monday, with a majority of the participants urging the government to take revolutionary steps in agriculture sector.

Taking part in the discussion, Warris Kalu suggested that the flat rate on Abiyana should be abolished.

Opposing fixation of wheat and sugar support prices, he demanded the growers themselves should be allowed to determine price of their produce instead of government officials.

He lashed out at sugar and flour mills owners, saying they had become a mafia as they either deny payment to farmers when they procure crops from them or delay it for months. The government should not remain a silent spectator and devise a comprehensive policy to address the issue, he stressed.

Proposing nationalisation of educational and health institutions that have been given autonomous status, he said the situation had deprived the masses of their right to these facilities.

Drawing attention of the house towards mushrooming foreign banks in the country, Kalu said all the national capital was being shifted abroad through these institutions. Consumer banking should be introduced to ensure that the wealth remained in the country, he suggested.

Muhammad Husain Dahr was of the view that instead of giving cash as loan to farmers, the government should ensure provision of quality fertilizers, seeds and pesticides to them on fixed prices. Furthermore, the government should also ensure subsidy on diesel and power tariff, he said.

He also proposed writing off the agricultural loans owed by the growers who owned up to 12.5 acres. Neglected areas should be given more attention, he added.

Appreciating the inspector-general of police for holding open courts, he suggested the practice should not be restricted to Lahore only as people living in far-flung areas also needed such opportunities for redressal of their grievances and they lacked resources to travel to the provincial capital.

He said a comprehensive policy should be devised to end registration of fake cases on the basis of dubious medico-legal certificates.

Dahr wanted to know whether or not the proposals by the MPAs would be incorporated in the budget to provide relief to the masses. “Every MPA is representing 200,000 people so the suggestions given by us should be given due importance while finalising the budget as these will help the government achieve its goal of alleviating poverty.”

Hafeez Akhtar Chaudhry stressed the need to promote research work in the agriculture sector. “Best quality mango and citrus is being produced in the country but owing to shortage of modern facilities we earn a meagre amount through the export of these fruits. This is only because the policy makers have nothing to do with the issues relating to farmers. Need of the hour is to authorise a man having experience of agriculture to draft policies.”

Due attention should be given to the tunnel farming projects that could increase farmers’ income manifold, he suggested.

He also called for efforts to get Harrapa included in the international heritage list.

Declaring the 2008-09 fiscal plan a balanced one, Pir Ashraf Rasool was of the view that since Independence, every budget had been for the poor but things started worsening at the implementation stage when bureaucracy created hurdles in the release of funds.

Urging the coalition partners in Punjab to shun their ‘petty’ differences, he asked them to join hands against the army and establishment that didn’t allow proper utilisation of funds to ameliorate the lot of the have-nots. He also called for strengthening the judiciary and accountability of the bureaucracy.

Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood Khan, who was in the chair, interrupted the Pir from Sheikhupura to comment that no one was against the army which played its constitutional role.

Pir Ashraf asked the chair which general, from Gen Ayub Khan to date, had acted according to the Constitution.

Sagheera Islam suggested that by giving due attention to the agriculture sector not only a green revolution could be brought in the province but wheat crisis could also be prevented.

The government should also prefer the CNG vehicles not only for the official use but also for the public transport purpose, she said. The use of CNG would not only reduce fuel expenses but the amount thus saved could be spent on projects for the welfare of masses, she added.

Unfortunately, she said, the police had become the most hated department. “Common man always avoids visiting police stations because of the indifferent attitude of the officials and the rampant corruption there.”

Nighat Nasir Sheikh said the government should ensure maximum opportunities to the women.

Sardar Ayyub Khan called for introduction of uniform syllabus in all educational institutions of the province. Various standards of education were making it difficult for the students of rural areas to compete with their counterparts in big cities, he said.

He demanded that the number of doctors in the hospitals, especially in rural areas, should be increased. Two years service in rural area should be made mandatory for doctors’ promotions to the next pay scale, he suggested.

Khan also called for ending disparity among the salaries of different wings of police.

Haji Liaqat Ali delivered his comments in Punjabi and was of the view that the support price for wheat should be fixed at Rs1,000 per 40 kg to end the artificial shortage of the essential commodity in the open market. “If I had any authority, I would have thrown sugar mill owners in the boilers for their callous attitude towards sugarcane growers,” he said, adding that MPAs should be made part of the sugar cess boards.

Demanding an inquiry into the sale of land for industrial estates, he said the previous government acquired it at Rs400,000 per acre and sold the same to industrialists at Rs4.5 million per acre.