16 govt bills, 40 resolutions passed by Sindh Assembly in 2019.

Byline: Hasan Mansoor

KARACHI -- The Sindh Assembly has been in session at least one-third of the last calendar year during which it considered and passed dozens of government and private pieces of legislation, making it inarguably a vibrant elected forum among its likes in the country.

According to the rules of procedures of the provincial legislature, it has to remain in session for at least 100 days a year. The present mandate of the assembly was formed on Aug 13, 2018; thus, it has passed more than 16 out of 60 months of its legitimate life.

During that period, official figures show, the assembly has been in session for 199 days out of 506 days, making it well ahead of the legislatures in other provinces.

Officials said the assembly had been in session for around 135 days this calendar year alone, which makes it one out of less than three days.

Compared to parliament and other provincial assemblies, PA has a rare distinction of having 135 sittings last year

Police Order among 10 laws passed Official records show 16 acts had been passed by the assembly since its current mandate came into being 16 months ago. Some 10 of those acts were passed during the calendar year of 2019.

Besides, some 22 private bills came for discussion in the provincial assembly, which were drafted and presented by various members.

The government presented 30 bills in 2019, of which 16 were passed, seven were sent to the standing committees concerned for further consideration and another seven were still being evaluated.

Among the prominent bills passed by the Sindh Assembly last year included The Sindh Injured Persons Compulsory Medical Treatment (Amal Umer) Bill, 2019; The Sindh Prisons and Correctional Facilities Bill, 2019; The Sindh (Repeal of the Police Act, 1861 and Revival of Police Order, 2002) Bill, 2019; The Sindh Reproductive Healthcare Rights Bill, 2019; The Coastal Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2019; The Sindh Women Agricultural Workers Bill, 2019; and The Sindh Charities Registration and Regulation Bill, 2019.

The Sindh Students Union Bill, 2019 aiming to revive the student unions, which had been banned during Gen Ziaul Haq's regime 35 years ago, is at present with the standing committee on law and parliamentary affairs and human rights for further consideration.

Official records show some 831 resolutions were received to the assembly's secretariat since Aug 13, 2018; of which 40 were passed, two were withdrawn and another three were...