Treasury, opposition resume blame game in Sindh Assembly.

Karachi -- In a rare event in the Sindh Assembly during the budget session, the proceedings remained smooth as 20 lawmakers spoke for over six hours without any unpleasant protest by any member.

At the outset of proceedings the Grand Democratic Alliance parliamentary Leader Husnain Mirza expressed his concern over hooliganism from both sides in the Assembly on Tuesday. Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said, he did not want to say who was right or wrong, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf parliamentary Leader Haleem Adil Sheikh said that every member of the assembly was bound to keep sanctity of the house.

Minister for parliamentary affairs rose to ask for an apology from the opposition members for passing below the belt remarks. Opposition Leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi requested the treasury and opposition members to remain calm. He also asked the speaker to extend time for debate on the budget so that every member could express their views.

'Centre should pay back for three hospitals'

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuhu said that as many as 178 people contracted Covid-19 due to distribution of money under Ehsaas programme. She said that the provincial governmert spent billions of rupees on the three hospitals-NICVD, NICH and JPMC-which the federal wanted to take over. She said that if the centre wanted to take these hospitals under its control, the provincial government should be paid all that expenditures incurred on the uplift of these hospitals.

She also informed the lawmakers that government was conducting coronavirus test free of cost, adding that each test cost Rs. 4000. 'Private hospitals are charging over Rs 8000 for the same test,' she added.

'Nothing for Karachi in budget'

Muhammad Hussain Khan of MQM-P said that the PPP was in power in the province for the last 12 years. 'The Sindh government got Rs 6410 billion from the federal government and generated Rs. 1771 billion during the past years,' he said. The MQM-P MPA said that Rs 1804 billion had been allocated in the ADP during past 12 years and only Rs 150 billion were spent on Karachi. He added that only Rs 26 billion was earmarked for ADP schemes in Karachi.

Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said locusts attack was a threat to our food security but the federal government was not paying attention to this important issue. He also underlined importance of 18th amendment and said that those who were talking to roll it back did not even read its provisions.

Action demanded against KE

The...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT