▁special ising ▁in ▁urban ▁planning . ▁ ▁Political ▁career ▁As ▁a ▁National ist ▁Party ▁candidate , ▁Pul lic ino ▁un success fully ▁cont ested ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁general ▁election ▁before ▁being ▁elected ▁to ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁of ▁Mal ta ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁general ▁election ; ▁he ▁was ▁re - elect ed ▁in ▁the ▁September ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁general ▁election . ▁Following ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁election , ▁in ▁which ▁the ▁National ist ▁Party ▁returned ▁to ▁power , ▁Pul lic ino ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁Parliament ary ▁Secretary ▁in ▁the ▁Ministry ▁for ▁Home ▁Affairs ; ▁he ▁was ▁subsequently ▁named ▁as ▁Parliament ary ▁Secretary ▁in ▁the ▁Ministry ▁for ▁Home ▁Affairs ▁and ▁the ▁Environment ▁in ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁ ▁Pul lic ino ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁Minister ▁for ▁R ural ▁Affairs ▁and ▁the ▁Environment ▁after ▁the ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁general ▁election , ▁with ▁a ▁port folio ▁that ▁included ▁the ▁Agricult ure ▁and ▁Fish eries ▁se ctors , ▁R ural ▁Development , ▁the ▁Environment ▁and ▁the ▁Mal ta ▁Environment ▁and ▁Pl anning ▁Author ity ▁( ME PA ). ▁ ▁Pul lic ino ▁was ▁retained ▁in ▁his ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Cab inet ▁res h uffle ▁with ▁a ▁port folio ▁that ▁was ▁expanded ▁to ▁include ▁implementation ▁of ▁a ▁W aste ▁Management ▁Str ategy ▁for ▁the ▁M alt ese ▁Islands . ▁ ▁Following ▁the ▁March ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁general ▁election , ▁ ▁which ▁the ▁National