Minister: 30,000 Government Jobs Cut Following IMF Directives

 Provincial Minister of Irrigation, Pir Kazim Pirzada, revealed that 30,000 government positions were eliminated as part of measures dictated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This decision has sparked conversations about the country’s economic challenges and its attempts to meet IMF conditions.

 Irrigation System Challenges and Future Repairs

During a session chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Pirzada discussed the state of the aging irrigation system. He explained that the canal system, which serves 67% of the land, was over a century old and currently underperforming, delivering only 1,000 cusecs of water instead of the required 1,300 cusecs. Engineers have advised against supplying water at full capacity to avoid breaches, but the minister assured that repairs would be completed by 2025-26.

Opposition and Legislative Challenges

The session was marked by tension between the government and the opposition. While government member Amjad Ali Javed raised concerns about ongoing projects, the Speaker expressed frustration over the lack of coordination between the irrigation department and the secretary. The opposition also raised quorum issues, leading to a brief adjournment, followed by a boycott of the proceedings. The Speaker called on law and local government ministers to engage with the opposition.

Legislative Developments and New Bills

Amidst the heated discussions, the assembly introduced seven new bills, including the Punjab Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, the Punjab Local Government Bill 2025, and the Punjab Narcotic Substances Control Bill 2025. All the bills were referred to their respective committees, with reports expected within two months. The proceedings also included prayers for the victims of the Bannu suicide attack, emphasizing solidarity in times of national tragedy.