Leader of the Opposition and PML-N Chief Shahbaz Sharif has said his party is ready to extend full cooperation in creation of South Punjab province and restoration of Bahawalpur province in Punjab.

Taking floor, he said his party is considering tabling a private bill for this purpose. He said the PTI had also promised to create South Punjab province and now it should take steps for this purpose. He said his government had passed resolutions in the Punjab Assembly in past for the creation of South Punjab province and restoration of Bahawalpur province. He said PML-N is sincere to this cause and the treasury benches should also move forward with same spirit.

Shahbaz Sharif also raised concerns over increasing prices of gas, electricity and daily items. He said the House should take up this matter on priority basis.

PTI Leader Amir Dogar said PML-N is twisting the issue by demanding restoration of Bahawalpur province. He said Bahawalpur province is viable as how can three districts could be declared as separate province. He said a committee of the House should be constituted to look into the matter.

The Opposition Leader also thanked Speaker of the National Assembly for issuance of production order for PML-N Leader Khawaja Saad Rafique.

Taking the floor, the Chairman PPP Bilwal Bhutto Zardari says it is credit of his party which mainstreamed the issue of creating South Punjab province. He said PPP will support the government if it shows sincerity in creating south Punjab province.

Bilwal Bhutto Zardari said he agrees with the Opposition Leader’s suggestion to have a debate in the National assembly over growing inflation in the country. He thanked the Deputy Speaker for issuing production order for PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique. He also expressed concerns over harassing Parliamentarians by placing their names on ECL.

Taking the floor, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that everyone takes leads in delivering speeches but seems reluctant in taking practical measures. He said it is the PTI which made creation of South Punjab province part of its election manifesto.  He said the PTI government will take the credit of creating South Punjab province as it materialized merger of FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Information Minister said the government has not placed name of any Parliamentarian on ECL.

MNA from Bahawalpur Malik Farooq Azam said the people of his area want restoration of their own province instead of becoming part of any other province.

PML-N Leader Murtaza Javed Abbasi also demanded creation of Hazara province in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PPP Leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that all the political parties had promised to create South Punjab province and no point scoring should be done in this regard.

PML-Q Leader Tariq Bashir Cheema said Bahawalpur is a separate entity and it has nothing to do with south Punjab province. He said we want restoration of Bahawalpur province instead of becoming part of south Punjab.

The House today passed a unanimous resolution for the constitution of public accounts committee and standing committee on law and justice.

The motion was moved by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

Members of the concerned committees will elect their respective chairmen.

For the first time National Assembly session started with the national anthem, after the recitation of Holy Quran and Naat.

On this occasion, Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri congratulated the members for setting a new tradition in the House and said that from now onwards national anthem will also be played after the recitation of Holy Quran and Naat at the beginning of every session.

For this purpose, the House has already amended rules of procedure and conduct of business in the National Assembly.