ANWAR KHAN

Karachi: The government plans to set up a food control authority to examine grain standards and ensure quality edibles supplied to the public, Sindh Parliamentary Affairs and Food Minister, Nisar Khuhro told the Sindh Assembly on Friday.

The authority will be a better move to ensure supplies of quality grains and other edibles, the minister hoped while making replies during the questions and answers session. He said that the authority would also help ensure quality flour output at the mills.

To a question by PTI’s Khurrum Sher Zaman Khan, he said that the government acquired wheat grain keeping in view the present and future demand. He said that the government had to make borrowings to purchase wheat grain. He expected the authority would end poor and substandard supplies of wheat to public.

He informed the house that the province had three food labs working on an agriculture basis. “The government will make appointments on 13 vacant posts in testing labs after a lift of ban on jobs,” he said.

Opposition leader, Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan of MQM, at a point-of-order asked the government to scale up salaries of the elected union chairmen and vice-chairmen from Rs10, 000 and Rs8, 000 a month, respectively. He said that the Provincial Finance Commission had fixed minimum salary of Rs14, 000 for a laborer. He said that the representatives’ salaries are too low.

Meantime, Khuhro also wanted to speak but Deputy Speaker, Shehla Raza had already permitted Izhar to express his views, which led both to exchange strong words. Izhar said that he was not critical of the local government system rather voicing for the elected civic representatives’ pay-scale. However, the deputy speaker latter calmed down both the legislators.

Sindh Local Bodies Minister, Jam Khan Shoro told the legislature that the government was supplying 100 million gallons per day to the city. He said that the province had shortage of water in the wake of low rains.

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law Karachi (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was also introduced in the house but its consideration was postponed till Monday sitting.

To mark the international Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the house also adopted a resolution to stress the need for equal rights to the female section of the society. The resolution also asked the government to take steps to ensure a safe society for women. The assembly will now sit on Monday morning.