Punjab Government Cuts 30,000 Jobs to Meet IMF Conditions
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- March 10, 2025
- 9:45 am
- 157
- Current Affairs
Punjab government cuts 30,000 jobs under IMF conditions, triggering protests and political debates in the assembly on Friday.
Punjab government cuts 30,000 jobs to follow IMF directives. This decision has sparked protests and political debates. Provincial Irrigation Minister Pir Kazim Pirzada announced the move, stating that it is part of the government’s economic reforms.
Assembly Session Delays and Opposition Protests
The Punjab Assembly session, led by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, started late by an hour and five minutes. As the session began, opposition members entered the hall carrying placards. They chanted slogans against the government’s policies. The Speaker asked them to lower their placards and follow house rules. They complied but later walked out in protest against the arrest of PTI Senator Aun Abbas Bappy.
To calm tensions, Law Minister Sohaib Bherat and Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique tried to engage with the opposition. However, their efforts did not bring immediate results.
Irrigation Crisis and Failing Infrastructure
During the session, Minister Pirzada spoke about Punjab’s outdated canal system. Built more than a century ago, it was originally designed to irrigate 67% of the land. Today, it delivers only 1,000 cusecs of water, while farmers need at least 1,300 cusecs. Engineers have warned that pushing the system to full capacity could cause breaches.
The Speaker expressed frustration over the government’s failure to repair key infrastructure like the Ravi Siphon. He noted that despite having enough funds, authorities had not prioritized these repairs. Minister Pirzada promised that essential fixes would be completed by 2025-26.
Government member Amjad Ali Javed also raised concerns about slow drainage projects in Jhang and Toba Tek Singh. He pointed out that bureaucratic delays had forced local residents to fix water issues on their own. The Speaker criticized the lack of communication between the irrigation department and the secretary, causing further delays.
Sludge Disposal and Misuse of Resources
The discussion also covered the disposal of sludge removed from canal cleaning. Minister Pirzada explained that the sludge, known as “bhal,” is placed on canal banks for farmers to use and is not sold separately. However, Javed argued that permits had been issued in his area for sludge collection, contradicting the minister’s claim.
Another assembly member alleged that some workers assigned to clean canals were instead working in officers’ homes. This accusation led to more debate about resource management and government oversight.
New Bills Introduced in the Assembly
Despite the heated discussions, the assembly introduced seven new bills:
- Punjab Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Ordinance 2025
- Punjab Local Government Bill 2025
- Punjab Narcotic Substances Control Bill 2025
- Punjab Undesirable Cooperative Societies (Repeal and Reorganization) Bill 2025
- Punjab Special Planning Authority Bill 2025
- Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Bill 2025
- Punjab Finance (Amendment) Bill 2025
Each bill was sent to its respective committee. Reports on these bills are expected within two months.
During the session, lawmakers also offered prayers for the martyrs of the Bannu suicide attack. The assembly was later adjourned until Monday, March 10.
