OUR STAFF REPORTER LAHORE-It was strange to see Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif justifying Rs 50 million Punjab governments grant for a private educational institute while speaking on the assembly floor on Wednesday, quoting similar examples from previous budgets presented by Pervaiz Elahis government. The chief minister was responding to a cut motion moved by the Opposition on Tuesday regarding demands for grants in respect of education department, as one of the members, Seemal Kamran had objected to governments decision saying that the said institution was owned by former Punjab Governor General Jillians family and the government might have done favour to the family by giving a hefty grant which could have been spent on provision of missing facilities in primary schools. It may be noted that General Jillani is known as political mentor of Sharif family besides being a former Punjab governor. In response to the objection Shahbaz Sharif said that the school was not owned by an individual but run by a board of governors, and children of extremely poor families, destitute and orphans were also studying there. He said that Chand Bagh School was playing an important role in the promotion of education in the country and right of no one had been violated by giving donation to the school. He further justified the donation amounting to Rs 50 million to Chand Bagh School, saying that previous rulers had also given such grants to private educational institutions and clubs. Giving details, the CM said that a sum of Rs.200 million was given to Beacon House in 2007-08 and Rs.500 million to LUMS in 2006-07. Similarly, he added, a sum of Rs.100 million was given to Rawalpindi Gymkhana Club and Rs.50 million to Lahore Gymkhana Club out of the hard-earned money of the people of the province. He said those who ruled the country at that time paid no heed to the cries of the poor and destitute persons for the basic facilities. Opposition Leader Raja Riaz interrupted during CMs speech and said that those who gave away millions to private clubs and schools were now sitting with him in the form of lotaas. They were allies of Pervez Musharraf in the past and now they are sitting with the chief minister, he averred, and asked him under which moral justification they were sitting in his lap. Raja said that if previous rulers had committed the mistake of giving grants to private institutions, the present government should not have repeated that mistake. The CM restarted his speech and said that academic services of LUMS, NUST, Beacon House and other educational institutions cannot be denied but these were educating the children of only a handful of elite. He said that Punjab government had launched the project of Daanish Schools for providing quality education to the children of the poorest parents of the province and he was proud of setting up such modern educational institutions for the poor. He said that those people were talking about the poor today who looted the country and deprived the poor of their hard-earned money. The CM thanked media for its full cooperation during Assembly session and said that it played an effective role for promoting public awareness regarding the budget. He also congratulated members of Punjab Assembly on the approval of provincial budget for the fiscal year 2011-12. He said that with the cooperation and consultation of Quaid Pakistan Muslim League-N Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, honourable members of the House and provincial cabinet, an excellent and balanced budget had been presented which was aimed at raising the living standard of the poor, generation of job opportunities for the youth and provision of basic amenities to the masses. He also thanked Speaker Punjab Assembly for conducting the budget session sagaciously and in a proper manner. He expressed his gratitude to the leaders of political parties, Opposition Leader and members of the Opposition on discharging their responsibility as Assembly members and submitting their proposals and suggestions for the budget 2011-12. The CM felicitated Provincial Finance Minister Kamran Michael on his excellent budget speech.