Curbs on social media for under-16s approved: Punjab Assembly seeks action against illegal housing schemes

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed several resolutions, including a call for restrictions on social media accounts of children under 16 and protection of Pakistan’s rights under the Indus Waters Treaty, while directing the provincial Housing Department to provide a prompt response on illegal housing societies allegedly depriving citizens of their lifetime savings. The issue of illegal housing societies was raised by opposition member Ahmer Rashid Bhatti during Zero Hour. He said numerous housing schemes had collected money from citizens but failed to provide them with promised facilities or return their investments. Parliamentary Secretary for Housing Sultan Bajwa informed the House that a case against the relevant society was pending before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan expressed displeasure, observing that citizens’ lifetime savings could not simply be left at the mercy of NAB. He directed the Housing Department to submit an early response and suggested that the NAB regional director be summoned to brief the House on action being taken against illegal housing societies. The speaker said that if the issue could not be resolved by the courts or the relevant department, the assembly would intervene by constituting a parliamentary committee to take the matter forward. The House also took up the Punjab West and Sanitation Workers’ Dignity, Safety, Security and Welfare Bill 2026. When treasury member Ahmed Iqbal Chaudhary sought to introduce the bill, the speaker stopped its presentation and directed him to consult the government on its financial implications. Ahmed said the proposed legislation aimed to establish safety standards for sanitation workers performing duties in the field and should not be ignored. The speaker directed Ahmed Iqbal and Parliamentary Secretary Khalid Ranjha to consult on all aspects of the bill and ensure that it was placed on the agenda during the ongoing session. The House also discussed the disposal of worn-out Quranic pages in accordance with Islamic principles. Minister for Auqaf Chaudhry Shafay Hussain said the Quran Board included religious scholars from different schools of thought and that, with the support of Madina Foundation, worn-out Quranic pages were disposed of through a designated chemical process at Quran Mahal. The speaker proposed the formation of a seven-member special parliamentary committee to devise a permanent mechanism for the issue. He also suggested placing collection boxes in mosques to gather worn-out Quranic pages for proper disposal. The assembly unanimously passed several resolutions, including one seeking a ban on social media accounts for children under 16. The resolution called for effective age-verification mechanisms and measures to ensure a safer digital environment for children. Another resolution condemned India’s alleged violations of the Indus Waters Treaty and called for safeguarding Pakistan’s legitimate water rights and ensuring implementation of the treaty. The House also unanimously approved several other resolutions, including those concerning private university bills. The session, which commenced two hours and four minutes behind schedule, was prorogued until 2pm on Wednesday after completion of the agenda. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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