Members concerned over price hike, urge relief to masses
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Higher Education Commission Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali informed the National Assembly on Tuesday that the government had suspended the establishment of nine engineering universities due to financial constraints.
Responding to a point raised by Abdul Qadar Khanzada of the MQM during discussion on price hike, she said the plan to set up the universities was made in a hurry and nobody considered its financial impact on the national economy as each university, if established, would cost Rs 45 billion.
The opposition members, while taking part in the discussion, criticised the government for failing to control the price hike. The parliamentarians also condemned unannounced increase in the prices of commodities at the Utility Stores.
During discussion, Abdul Qadar Khanzada, while referring to the education sector, looked dissatisfied with the qualification of certain members of the cabinet committee constituted to keep a watch on the affairs of universities and improve facilities in the higher education sector.
Shehnaz Wazir Ali said the prime minister, under a decision of the cabinet, had constituted a cabinet committee that consisted of highly educated persons to review the programme for setting up these universities besides improvement of education standard.
She said all members of the committee, including Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, were highly qualified. Shahnaz Wazir Ali said she herself had two Masters degrees and a diploma from the Harvard University.
She said the government did not want to utilise the national exchequer on merely grandiose education schemes. She said instead of spending huge amount on these universities, the government had decided to strengthen the existing universities and degree-awarding institutions in the country to improve the education standard.
She said keeping in view the difficult financial position, the government intended to concentrate on upgrading and improvement of higher educational institutions, as it wanted to spend each penny on public welfare.
Earlier, the members participating in the discussion urged the government to take visible steps to overcome the price hike so that people could get essential commodities at reasonable rates.
Those who spoke included Abdul Qadir Patel, Khushbakht Shujaat, Rana Tanwir Hussain, Akram Masih Gill and Abdul Qadar Khanzada. Abdul Qadar Patel of the PPP called upon the cabinet members to take serious steps and adopt a strategy to control the price hike of essential commodities and provide relief to the masses.
Khushbakht Shujaat and Abdul Qadar Khanzada of the MQM criticised the performance of the Utility Stores, saying not only the prices of various items had been increased but quality of commodities was also poor.
Khushbakht Shujaat said the price hike had broken the back of poor masses, saying the parliamentarians should give suggestions and proposals to bring down the soaring prices. She said that merit was the only solution to all problems. We should also look into the fact whether those appointed at responsible places are selected on merit or not, she said.
Khanzada criticised the government for raising the support price of wheat to Rs 950 per 40 kilogram. Responding to the point of Khanzada Khan, Minister for Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal informed the house that the government had increased the wheat support price with an objective to enhancing productivity besides increasing the income of small growers. He said this increase would benefit small growers who were 96% percent of the agriculture community.
Minority member Akram Masih said minimum wage of Rs 6,000 for workers was not sufficient to meet the expenses of a person who was the head of a family. Rana Tanvir said the prices of commodities at the Utility Stores had been increased without announcement of any policy by the government.
Meanwhile, Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi informed the house that the Saudi Arabian government had been requested to enhance the Haj quota for Pakistan to accommodate the maximum number of people. He said various complaints had been received against the Haj operators and assured the House that after proper investigations, action would be taken against those found guilty.
The minister said that due to demolition of buildings around the Masjid-al-Haram, the Haj pilgrims, especially the aged, faced serious difficulties, including the transport problem. He said the Saudi government had also assured that it would remove difficulties regarding the provision of transport to the Haj pilgrims in Makkah next year.
Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim informed the House that the country was expecting a bumper rice crop this year that would definitely result in reduction in its prices. Responding to a call attention notice regarding procurement of rice at high rates by the Trading Corporation, he said the government was making concerted efforts to enhance the agricultural yield, particularly food items, to provide relief to the common man.
Regarding the high rates of rice, he informed the House that a committee had been formed to probe the matter and promised that appropriate action would be taken against those found guilty in this regard.
