Disgruntled lawmakers of the ruling party from southern Punjab and members of the newly formed Southern Punjab Province Front (SPPF) have submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly demanding creation of a separate province comprising southern areas of Punjab.
The resolution, submitted by SPPF members Sardar Nasrullah Khan Dareshak and Makhdoom Hashim Jawaan Bakhat on Monday, urged the legislative assembly of the province to press the federal government to take practical measures to declare southern region of Punjab as a separate province.
Talking to media after submitting the resolution, the SPPF members said that creation of new provinces will make the federation of Pakistan stronger. They said that the quality of life of the people in southern region of Punjab was very poor. They said that unemployment rate was very high in the area coupled with inadequate facilities of education and healthcare.
To a question about capital of the proposed southern Punjab province, they said no discussion on the matter had yet taken place.
On this occasion, they urged all the political parties to support their demand of a separate province if they were sincere with the people of southern Punjab. They also expressed serious concern over failure of the Punjab government in implementing a previously passed resolution in favour of southern Punjab.
Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed the resolution and assured the SPPF members of his party’s full support in this regard. He said the PTI will make southern Punjab a separate province after coming into power after the upcoming general elections.
Published in Daily Times, April 17th 2018.
