Heated debate was held during Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session on Tuesday with special focus on Dera Ismail Khan water problems. Presided over by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session started two hours late with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the question hour. Speaking on the floor of the House, MPA Ehsan Ullah requested for providing details about the functional and nonfunctional water schemes in PK 115 Dera Ismail Khan, stating that the water from active schemes in the area was not drinkable, forcing people to buy water. He highlighted that the use of rainwater in the constituency was causing intestinal diseases among the public. MPA Ahmed Kundi also highlighted the water issues in Dera Ismail Khan. He said that despite spending billions of rupees, basic facilities are not being provided to the public, leaving people deprived of water due to the provincial government’s negligence.

Law Minister Aftab Alam responded that the concerned minister, Pakhtun Yar, was not present in the House, but the members’ concerns would be shared with the relevant minister. According to the department’s report, out of 230 water schemes in constituency 115, 181 are active, he told. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati expressed the assembly members’ dissatisfaction with the department’s responses and instructed the relevant departments to provide accurate and detailed information. The law minister said that if the members objected to the information’s accuracy, clarification would be sought from the department. On MPA Ehsan Ullah’s request, the Speaker referred the question to the standing committee concerned. During the question hour, Ahmed Kundi also raised concerns about the formation of District Development Advisory Committees (DDAC) in 28 districts of the province while six districts were left out.

He said that making decisions on merit would enhance the government’s reputation and urged that they should not be forced to approach the court. Local Government Minister Arshad Ayub assured that they do not want members to go to court and that DDAC Chairmen would be appointed in the deprived districts through consultation. He emphasized sending the member’s question to the committee, after which the Speaker referred PPP member Ahmed Kundi’s question regarding the payment details of leave encashment to Local Government employees and PML-N member Sobia Shahid’s question related to communications and works to the Standing Committee.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan