Punjab Assembly passes Finance Bill with majority vote.

LAHORE -- The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed the Finance Bill 2020-21 with majority amid slaganeering from the Opposition.

The PA also passed six bills and two resolutions including the one demanding use of words Khatam al-Nabeyyeen ,whenever, the name of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is written or read.

The session started more than two hours behind the scheduled time with Speaker Ch Parvez Elahi in the chair.

Minister for Finance Hashim Jawan Bakht presented the Finance Bill, containing exemptions in GST on services, construction services, property tax, entertainment tax, and introducing a new four per cent tax on ride healing services.

It also amended Stamp Act 1899 to reduce stamp duty from five to one per cent.

Leader of the House, against the tradition, did not address after the approval of the budget.

The assembly also approved extension in the period of three ordinances - Punjab Prevention of Hoarding, Punjab Private Educations Institutions (amendment), and Code of Civil Procedure (amendment) ordinances.

When the resolution to extend the term of the Anti-Hoarding Ordinance was tabled in the House, the Opposition members started chanting slogans in front of the Speaker's chair, alleging that the procedure was being rigged by not following the rules.

After protest for a while, they boycotted the rest of the proceedings and did not return till the end of the...