Punjab Assembly on Saturday stressed the need for improving agriculture and irrigation sector in the country, saying that these sectors remained the backbone of the country's economy. The session, which again saw boycott of the opposition on the pretext of non-issuance of notification of the leader of opposition and erected a camp outside the assembly premises, was also critical of rising commodity prices in the country. The session, during the day opened with recitation of "Naat", offered "Dua" for Benazir Bhutto on her 55th birthday. Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira initiated these proceedings for the late leader. On the occasion, a blood donation camp was set up by Pakistan Peoples Pakistan outside the assembly premises. A large number of PPP legislators donated blood on the occasion. Similar camps by the party were also established in the party's secretariat at Faisal Town during the day. During the session, two privilege motions were presented. One presented by Fauzia Behram on police excess was referred to the special committee, while the other, presented by Abdul Rehman on an incident in the Irrigation Department, was kept pending. MPA Ahmad Khan Baluch, participating in the budget debate, demanded of the provincial government to give only one tractor in a family under the tractor scheme in proposed 2008-09 budget. The legislator also stressed upon the government to take off tax on 12.5 acre land. He asked the government to make at least one school in four union councils' jurisdiction. The legislator was particularly harsh on law and order, and demanded of the government to make definite improvements. Saeed Akbar Niwani, a senior legislator, in his speech requested the opposition to come in the House as he said it was the opposition that could only improve performance of the government, he added. He said with the alliance of PPP-PML-N not the political system, but entire country was running. He said only independent judiciary could give respite to the masses. The legislator termed development of agriculture sector as mandatory for well being of the nation. Najaf Hussain Sial, MPA, termed the proposed budget as satisfactory. Appreciating introduction of measures for provision of dialysis facilities, he said that this facility should be available at tehsil level. He demanded of the government to give Rs 1, 000 per maund to farmers. MPA Shaukat Mahmood asked the government to provide housing colonies to teachers and lawyers. MPA Shahjehan Bhatti asked the government to set a date line for repairs of canals and irrigation channels in the province. Criticising the management of a sugar mill in Nankana Saheb, he said farmers were weary of the attitude of this sugar mill. He said small farmers were generally upset on modus of payments of their sugarcane produce by the sugar mills. Bhatti said the government should allow small sugar mills to be constructed to solve payments and other problems of the small farmers. The MPA asked the government to write off loans of small farmers. He said, as the budget was surplus, an amount be set aside here for this purpose. Jalal-u-Din Dhukko, a six-time MPA of the Punjab Assembly, said that in the times of British, the English termed Punjab as "Golden Sparrow." He said how unfortunate it was that this sparrow was importing everything for itself now. The MPA said besides uplift of agri sector, improvement in law and order was vital. He stressed upon the government to build new dams. He said the dams construction in the province should be initiated on non-controversial sites. MPA Dr Tanvir Aslam spoke of the necessity in improvement in police system. He said independent judiciary was vital for the Country. MPA Sardar Athar Hasan Khan Borchani in the session brought attention of the House of problems of Rajanpur and Rohjan area. In the session, MPA Sheikh Allaudin, on a point of order, said that the residence of famous artiste the late Dildar Pervaiz Bhatti was being taken from his widow. The chair asked MPA Kamran Michael to look into the matter. Senior Minister Raja Riaz said that he along with Tanvir Ashraf Kaira and Tanveer-ul-Islam on the 55th birthday of Benazir Bhutto went to Shaukat Khanum Hospital and donated blood there. MPA Munawar Islam, participating in the discussion, said a think tank should be formed to address the acute shortage of water in the province. MPA Moeen Watoo stressed upon the government to bring in efficient and honest bureaucracy to improve the system. The house was later adjourned by the chair. Copyright Business Recorder, 2008