LAHORE - As negotiations between the PPP and the PML-N are going on to settle modalities of power-sharing in Punjab, the latter has demanded some share in Benazir Income Support Programme, being launched by the federal government before Eid for the poor families. The said Programme will be launched with Rs 34 billion, and the amount would later be increased to Rs 50 billion to provide Rs1000 per month to the poor families. The PML-N made this demand in a recent meeting with PPP leaders held at Lahore in response to PPP's assertion on providing development funds to all legislators in Punjab irrespective of their party affiliation. The PPP had also demanded job quota in Punjab for all MPAs including those belonging to the PML-Q. It merits mentioning here that the federal government has devised a formula to identify eligible households for the said scheme, according to which, selection of poor families is supposed to be made through computerised NADRA database under a set criteria to make the entire process transparent. Federal Finance Minister Naveed Qamar at a news conference a couple of weeks back had said that the government would make the selection process transparent, and there would be no discrimination on the basis of political affiliation or any personal favour with anyone. It is to be noted that since the initiation of dialogue over power-sharing formula between the two parties, the PML-N had been demanding facilities for its MPs in the NA, where it is in Opposition, in exchange for accommodating PPP MPAs in Punjab in respect of allocation of funds, job quota and other matters. The PPP provincial leadership, however, believes that PML-N MNAs don't need any facilitation at the Centre, because their party is in power in Punjab, and they could easily get the problems of their electorate resolved at the provincial level. The next round of talks between the two sides to settle power-sharing issues in Punjab would be held after Eid, and most probably, their central leadership would get involve into the process to thrash out differences in this regard.