KARACH - Sindh Assembly on Friday held a prolong sitting as 22 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle took part in the budget debate, mainly criticising each other’s leadership. The sitting lasted for over seven hours with three breaks for over two hours for Namaz.
Speaking on the budget, Syed Abdur Rasheed, the lone member of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said that traditionally pre-budget sessions were held ahead of the budget so that the members could give their suggestions. “It seems that the PPP-led Sindh government was busy in forming the government in the centre that’s why the pre-budget session was not summoned,” he added.
The MMA lawmaker deplored that only Rs10 billion was kept for Karachi out of Rs 1.7 trillion budget and all mega schemes for the city were to be completed in the allocated amount. He said that measures had to be taken out of interest system as the federal government would be paying 4.5 trillion for interest of loans. He said that there was a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in the province. Rasheed said that uplift works were not being carried out in the opposition constituencies.
He said that the PPP’s Sindh government was carrying out development works in Lyari just ahead of the local bodies election. “These uplift works are the PPP preparations for the local government elections,” he added.
The MMA lawmaker said that Karachi, particularly Lyari had been deprived of water for the last many years, demanding that four overhead water tanks should be built in Lyari.
Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu in her budget speech said that strict action was taken against staff of the department on complaints of corruption and malpractices. She said that effective measures were being taken against the poliovirus and no case had been registered in the province in the recent times.
Nadeem Siddiqui of MQM-P said that PPP government had given 15 budgets but no significant improvement in health and education sectors was seen during the past 14 years. He said that Trade and industry sector had been destroyed during the PPP rule in Sindh.
He said that the infrastructure of Hyderabad Site area was in bad condition and the industries existing there were carrying out uplift works on their own.
Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahu said that there were only 10 public sector universities in Sindh till 2008 but the PPP-led Sindh government established 17 more during the last 13 years. He said that the provincial government had always enhanced grants for varsities.
Rahu, who also holds environment protection portfolio, said that said palm trees would be planted on 2000 acres of land. “The palm trees would be planted on 1000 acres land this year, and remaining in the coming years,” he added.
He said that the PTI-led federal government had committed injustices to Sindh during its tenure. “Did PTI government give any project to Sindh?,” he asked.
PTI Parliamentary Leader Khurram Sher Zaman said that the provincial government made false promises by earmarking huge development budget. “You (PPP) could not fulfil your earlier promises,” he said.
The PTI MPA said that the provincial government could not provide portable water to people of Karachi in the past 15 years.
Women Development Minister Shehla Raza said that the department had been allocated Rs 94 million for the year 2022-23.
Dr Lal Chand Ukrani of PPP said health facilities up to UC level have been provided in every district across Sindh. NICVD network will be laid across Sindh. Liver transplant, kidney transplant is being done at Ghambat Institute.
Speakers took part in discussion included MQM-P’s Sanjay Parwani and Muhammad Hussain Khan; PTI’s Dr Seema Zia, Shahnawaz Jadoon, Dr Imran Ali Shah, Malik Shehzad Awan; GDA’s Nand Kumar Goklani; and PPP’s Shaheena Sher Ali, Sharmeela Farooqui, Imdad Pitafi, Gayan Chand, Zia Abbas, Tanzeela Qambrani and Sajid Jokhio. Later, the house was adjourned to Monday.
| Lyari deprived of water for last many years by PPP-led Sindh govt, says MMA Lawmaker
Speaking on the budget, Syed Abdur Rasheed, the lone member of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal said that traditionally pre-budget sessions were held ahead of the budget so that the members could give their suggestions. “It seems that the PPP-led Sindh government was busy in forming the government in the centre that’s why the pre-budget session was not summoned,” he added.
The MMA lawmaker deplored that only Rs10 billion was kept for Karachi out of Rs 1.7 trillion budget and all mega schemes for the city were to be completed in the allocated amount. He said that measures had to be taken out of interest system as the federal government would be paying 4.5 trillion for interest of loans. He said that there was a shortage of anti-rabies vaccines in the province. Rasheed said that uplift works were not being carried out in the opposition constituencies.
He said that the PPP’s Sindh government was carrying out development works in Lyari just ahead of the local bodies election. “These uplift works are the PPP preparations for the local government elections,” he added.
The MMA lawmaker said that Karachi, particularly Lyari had been deprived of water for the last many years, demanding that four overhead water tanks should be built in Lyari.
Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu in her budget speech said that strict action was taken against staff of the department on complaints of corruption and malpractices. She said that effective measures were being taken against the poliovirus and no case had been registered in the province in the recent times.
Nadeem Siddiqui of MQM-P said that PPP government had given 15 budgets but no significant improvement in health and education sectors was seen during the past 14 years. He said that Trade and industry sector had been destroyed during the PPP rule in Sindh.
He said that the infrastructure of Hyderabad Site area was in bad condition and the industries existing there were carrying out uplift works on their own.
Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahu said that there were only 10 public sector universities in Sindh till 2008 but the PPP-led Sindh government established 17 more during the last 13 years. He said that the provincial government had always enhanced grants for varsities.
Rahu, who also holds environment protection portfolio, said that said palm trees would be planted on 2000 acres of land. “The palm trees would be planted on 1000 acres land this year, and remaining in the coming years,” he added.
He said that the PTI-led federal government had committed injustices to Sindh during its tenure. “Did PTI government give any project to Sindh?,” he asked.
PTI Parliamentary Leader Khurram Sher Zaman said that the provincial government made false promises by earmarking huge development budget. “You (PPP) could not fulfil your earlier promises,” he said.
The PTI MPA said that the provincial government could not provide portable water to people of Karachi in the past 15 years.
Women Development Minister Shehla Raza said that the department had been allocated Rs 94 million for the year 2022-23.
Dr Lal Chand Ukrani of PPP said health facilities up to UC level have been provided in every district across Sindh. NICVD network will be laid across Sindh. Liver transplant, kidney transplant is being done at Ghambat Institute.
Speakers took part in discussion included MQM-P’s Sanjay Parwani and Muhammad Hussain Khan; PTI’s Dr Seema Zia, Shahnawaz Jadoon, Dr Imran Ali Shah, Malik Shehzad Awan; GDA’s Nand Kumar Goklani; and PPP’s Shaheena Sher Ali, Sharmeela Farooqui, Imdad Pitafi, Gayan Chand, Zia Abbas, Tanzeela Qambrani and Sajid Jokhio. Later, the house was adjourned to Monday.
| Lyari deprived of water for last many years by PPP-led Sindh govt, says MMA Lawmaker
