Sindh Assembly: heated debate on budget continues
Meanwhile, opposition lawmakers raised alarm bells over potential misuse of budget funds and deteriorating living standards for the poor.
The session, presided over by Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, began with sparse attendance of only seven members but the number increased as proceedings progressed. Several provincial ministers joined the debate, presenting departmental reviews and outlining upcoming development initiatives for fiscal year 2025–26.
Speaking from the treasury benches, senior PPP leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro revealed that acting Governor Owais Qadir Shah had been barred from entering the Governor's House. 'The Governor House is being treated like private property,' Khuhro lamented, labelling Governor Kamran Tessori an 'encroacher.'
He demanded a formal resolution in the Assembly to uphold constitutional protocol and expressed strong disapproval of the term 'Muhajir' being spray-painted on the building during Tessori's tenure. Khuhro further accused the federal government of undermining Sindh by cutting Rs100 billion from its NFC share.
MQM lawmaker Abdul Waseem, meanwhile, delivered a scathing critique of the budget, asserting that 50 percent of the proposed funds would fall prey to corruption and fail to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Though he credited Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon for introducing new buses to Karachi, he said they were inadequate. 'Karachi needs at least 1,000 new buses.'
A major portion of Friday's proceedings centred on the treatment of acting Governor Owais Qadir Shah. Former Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani condemned the incident, calling it an 'insult to the Speaker's chair,' and demanded an official apology from the Governor for violating constitutional norms.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar echoed the concerns, revealing that Shah had been unable to perform his duties for the past 22 days because Governor Tessori had locked the offices and taken the keys with him to Saudi Arabia. Lanjar read out a court order instructing the reopening of the offices and criticized the irony that the 'bell of justice' at the Governor House could not ring for the acting governor himself. 'If this continues, dignity will vanish from all offices, and only hollow titles like 'Governor' will remain,' Lanjar warned. He urged the Chief Minister to intervene and hold those responsible accountable.
In response, MQM's Taha Ahmed Khan attributed the issue to 'miscommunication and misunderstanding,' cautioning against politicising the matter. 'We condemn how this issue is being used against Governor Kamran Tessori,' he said, reaffirming MQM's respect for the office and their pride in their identity as descendants of Pakistan's founders.
Provincial Minister Ali Hassan Zardari highlighted that 48 new development schemes had been included in the budget, while Industries Minister Jam Ikram Dharejo declared that Rs5 billion had been earmarked for road development in Karachi's SITE industrial area. He also announced the launch of Phase 3 of the Nooriabad Industrial Zone and asserted Sindh's constitutional right to gas resources extracted from its soil.
Rehabilitation Minister Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman reported a 12 percent increase in Sindh's revenue collection and emphasised that no other party had served Karachi as diligently as the PPP. He noted that 64 out of 164 RO plants were currently functional in Matiari and mobile service units were active across all districts.
Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Muhammad Farooq issued a dire warning about the escalating water crisis in Karachi, stating, 'The world's first water war may begin here.' He criticized the Sindh government for not prioritizing the K-IV water project in its federal demands and pointed out the limited Rs123billion allocation for local governments.
Farooq also urged the government to invest in desalination technology and questioned the effectiveness of the so-called 'Shehbaz Speed,' which, he argued, had brought no tangible benefit to Karachi.
PPP MPA Imdad Pitafi called for maturity on both sides of the aisle, describing the opposition as a necessary 'mirror' for any government but warning against cultivating distrust. 'There will be no Pakistan without unity,' he said. 'We must think collectively for Sindh and Pakistan.'
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
20 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Bikes, rickshaws and Evs: Insurers told to submit separate rate quotes
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan has directed insurance companies to submit separate insurance rate quotations for motorcycles, rickshaws and electric cars within a week. He passed on these directions here on Thursday while chairing a high-level meeting to address insurance pricing and policy concerns under the National Electric Vehicle (NEV) Financing Scheme 2025-30. The meeting signalled the growing momentum around Pakistan's EV ecosystem, particularly as the government prepares to roll out its Rs100 billion subsidy package aimed at accelerating EV adoption nationwide. The meeting brought together senior representatives from leading insurance firms and electric vehicle manufacturers to deliberate on risk coverage, particularly concerning battery theft and theft-prevention measures for EVs. EV manufacturers such as Ezbike briefed the forum on technological advancements in modern electric vehicles, including GPS-enabled tracking, specialized battery locks, and anti-theft lock systems. Furthermore, Lithium-ion batteries, noted for their stability and suitability to Pakistan's climate, were highlighted as the safest and most eco-friendly option currently available by the EV manufacturers, giving assurance to the insurance companies for the lesser risk involvement in the electric vehicles. Addressing the participants, Khan directed insurance firms to submit separate insurance rate quotations for motorcycles, rickshaws, and electric cars by the upcoming Tuesday. Emphasising public affordability, he urged companies to propose the most competitive pricing structures, assuring that consumer interest would remain paramount in the final selection. 'This initiative, aligned with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's vision, marks another step towards making Pakistan's transport ecosystem greener, safer, and more accessible,' Khan stated. 'Electric vehicles will significantly cut down urban pollution and dependency on fossil fuels.' A wide array of insurance companies attended the session, including: Pak-Qatar General Takaful Ltd, Asia Insurance, Salaam Takaful Limited, Habib Insurance Co, Adamjee Insurance, TPL Insurance, Security General Insurance Co Ltd, Alfalah Insurance Company Limited, East West Insurance, TPLI Insurance, UBL Insurers Limited, The United Insurance Company, Reliance Insurance Co, Jubilee General Insurance Co Ltd, IGI General Insurance, Shaheen Insurance Co Ltd, Shaheen Insurance Limited, Askari General Insurance, EFU General Insurance, Century Insurance and State Life. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
1724919650-0%2FUntitled-design-(5)1724919650-0.png&w=3840&q=100)
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
K-P enacts Finance Act 2025
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governor has signed the Finance Bill 2025, officially enacting it into law. With the governor's assent, the bill has now become effective from July 1, 2025, implementing a series of new tax measures, amendments, and revisions aimed at expanding the province's revenue base. The new finance law introduces several notable changes, including the expansion of the existing tax net, exemptions for low-income individuals and small properties, and adjustments in various sectors to encourage formalization and compliance. As per the bill, property tax has been waived for houses smaller than five marlas, while professional tax on individuals earning up to Rs36,000 per month has been abolished. Similarly, the stamp duty on the allotment and transfer of residential and commercial properties has been reduced from two per cent to one per cent, aiming to facilitate property transactions and reduce costs for buyers and sellers. The bill also mandates that all vehicles across the province must now be registered in order to obtain permits, a move expected to streamline transport regulation. In addition, property tax exemptions have been extended to residential and commercial properties up to 4.9 marlas, while electric vehicles have been granted a token tax exemption until June 30, 2028. The hotel bed tax has been reduced from 10 per cent to seven percent. For rickshaw owners, specific penalties have been introduced for violations, and the professional tax on doctors and tailors has been lowered. The provincial government has asserted that no new taxes have been levied in the former FATA and PATA regions. However, the bill proposes strict penalties for any fraud, forgery, or manipulation of driving licenses, including imprisonment for up to two months or a fine of up to Rs100,000. Under the revised property tax regime, five to 10 marla houses in divisional headquarters will be taxed up to Rs3,000, and up to Rs2,000 in district headquarters. Properties ranging from 10 to 15 marlas will be subject to Rs3,500 and Rs3,000 in divisional and district headquarters respectively.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
ADB, Sindh launch Rs440m initiative
Listen to article The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with the Government of Sindh, has launched a Rs440 million business recovery and empowerment initiative for families impacted by the 2022 floods. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, ADB's Gender Specialist Judha Bukhari led a delegation to Hyderabad on Wednesday and held a strategic meeting with the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry (HCSTSI). During the meeting, Bukhari stated that 2.1 million families were affected by the floods and, in the first phase, over 6,000 households will receive financial assistance ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs300,000 to help them establish small businesses suited to their needs. She said the aim is to empower vulnerable communities through sustainable livelihoods and appreciated HCSTSI's support in conducting the upcoming business survey in Hyderabad. HCSTSI Acting President Ahmed Idrees Chohan lauded the initiative as a timely effort to help women and youth achieve financial independence. He highlighted business models such as tailoring, tiffin services, and e-commerce training. Vice President Shan Sehgal emphasised the potential of hospitality and food ventures, citing Bangladesh's success with women-led microenterprises. He called for youth training in marketing and technical skills to foster self-sufficient businesses. The meeting was attended by ADB officials and HCSTSI members, including former president Muhammad Akram Ansari.
