ISLAMABAD
The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that the wheat procurement target set for the current season will be achieved by the end of June.
Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar told the house during the question hour that the country is self-sufficient in wheat production but over the last two years, a shortfall has been witnessed due to various factors including non-availability of timely fertilizers to the farmers, climate change and shortage of water.
He said that the government has decided to import three million metric tonnes of wheat to meet domestic requirements. He said it has also been decided to take firm action against hoarding and smuggling of the commodity. The minister for commerce said that modern silos will be established to ensure better preservation of wheat.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi regretted delay in completion of New Balakot City project. He said that thirty percent work on the project has been completed. He said that responsibility rests with the provincial government to complete the remaining seventy percent work.
Responding to the points of opposition members, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that a legal and constitutional procedure was followed to remove Governor Punjab Omar Sarfraz Cheema. He said that it is a parliamentary democracy and the president is bound to follow the advice of the prime minister under the constitution.
Attorney General of Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali also echoed the remarks of the law minister, saying there are also decisions of courts on the matter.
The house adopted a resolution stressing that obedience to the constitution is obligatory on every citizen. The resolution moved by Mohsin Dawar said the president is bound to protect and defend the constitution. It called upon the president to act in a non-partisan manner as per the constitution. Fehmida Mirza of GDA said all the institutions including the judiciary, the armed forces and the presidency should be respected. The House will now meet on Thursday (today) at 11:00am.
