Amraiz Khan
Punjab Law and Cooperatives Minister Raja Basharat on Wednesday claimed that during the past two and a half years, the Punjab Assembly has passed 68 bills and made record legislation while implementing only 33 ordinances, setting best example of good governance.
He was addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to CM on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan here on Wednesday. He said that the Punjab chief minister wants to upgrade the outdated laws for the welfare of the people in the province, adding that the government is following the chief minister’s vision and enacted record legislation in the face of a huge opposition. “The past governments never envision changing laws of the 19th century deliberately, while we have updated the centuries-old laws of cooperatives and prisons and continue to do so,” he pointed out.
Raja Basharat said that the government also has full support and encouragement of Speaker Punjab Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. The Law Minister said that the democratic thinking of the Speaker Punjab Assembly gave confidence to the government and that’s why the Rules of Procedure have been amended. The Chairmen of the Standing Committees were not activated earlier but Speaker helped make them active. He said that Punjab Local Government Act 2019 was brought and passed which is a manifestation of the vision of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister.
The government passed the Punjab Public-Private Act to give legal protection to investment. “Effective legislation was also enacted with regard to FATF. We ensured through amendments in the Sugar Act to bind sugar mills for timely commencement of sugarcane crushing and timely payment to the farmers. By passing the Ravi Development Act, the government has made important plans for Lahore. Laws have also been passed for speedy disposal of cases.”, he added. Raja Basharat said that research centers are being set up in the law department and Punjab Assembly for new legislation.” The opposition has always put its own interests before the interests of the people and has not shown a positive attitude towards legislation.” He said that the decision of local body elections is to be taken by the Election Commission. He said the court had banned rallies in view of the Corona epidemic and the opposition should respect it and prove its national responsibility. He said that as per the instructions of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, the department of cooperatives is being made fully functional.
