30,000 Govt Jobs Ended on IMF's Demand

During the Question Hour in the Punjab Assembly, Irrigation Minister Kazim Pirzada revealed that the Punjab government has eliminated 30,000 positions in line with International Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements.

The Friday session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, witnessed opposition protests and intense discussions on the province’s irrigation challenges.

Opposition Protests and Boycott

Opposition members entered the assembly hall holding placards and chanting slogans, prompting the speaker to urge them to maintain decorum as agreed in the Business Advisory Committee meeting. While they complied by lowering their placards, they later boycotted the session in protest against the arrest of PTI Senator Aun Abbas Bappi.

In response, Law Minister Sohaib Bherat and Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique were assigned the task of persuading the opposition to return.

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Debate on Punjab’s Irrigation System

A major focus of the session was Punjab’s irrigation system, with the speaker highlighting the struggles of farmers facing severe water shortages and urging the ministry to take action.

Minister Pirzada acknowledged the aging canal system and financial constraints, stating that while the canal system was originally designed to serve 67 percent of the land, it is currently operating below capacity due to the risk of canal breaches. He assured the assembly that the government is working to improve the system this year.

Concerns were also raised about ongoing drainage projects, with government member Amjad Ali Javed questioning the effectiveness of certain projects in the Jhang and Toba Tek Singh districts.

Clarification on Canal Cleaning Process

The assembly also discussed the disposal of soil removed during canal cleaning, known as “bhal”. Minister Pirzada clarified that this soil is used for canal bank reinforcement and by farmers, denying any claims that it is being sold commercially.