Gilani doubles discretionary development fund for MNAs

[Naveed Yaseen]

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced on Tuesday that development funds allocated to each member of the National Assembly had been doubled from Rs 10 million to Rs 20 million.

The prime minister made the announcement in the Lower House on the last day of the budget session. Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi later prorogued the House sine die.

Gilani said the decision had been made after the House unanimously passed the budget for the fiscal year 2009-10.

Referring to a private member’s bill on the protection of women, children and their families – Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill 2008 – the prime minister said that the allied government was committed to protecting the family system in line with sharia. He said the system was vital to ensuring smooth development of society.

He said the government was already working on comprehensive legislation to provide protection to women and children and to prevent domestic violence against women. The government would welcome recommendations by both the treasury and opposition benches to make the law “more workable”, he added.

He said protection for the rights of vulnerable segments of society, particularly women and children, was the prime responsibility of the society. “The government is therefore determined to introduce necessary legislation in collaboration with all political parties.”

On a call-attention notice, Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar said a 50 percent increase in the prices of sugar over the last year was a matter of concern, but the government had directed the Industries and Production Ministry to reduce prices.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg1_6