KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed the Sindh Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2018, and the Government College (Kali Mori) University Hyderabad Bill, 2018.

When the house met in the morning, it took up the public-private partnership bill for consideration and passed it unanimously. MQM’s Syed Sardar Ahmad, who had advised on Thursday to send the bill to the standing committee for removing ambiguities and improving it, was absent.

When the Government College University Hyderabad Bill was taken up for consideration after its introduction, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nisar Khuhro said the Government College Kali Mori Hyderabad was a historic institution which had celebrated its 100 years of dispensing knowledge last October.

“The students of the college played an important role in the struggle for restoration of democracy in the country. It produced outstanding personalities in every field including the ex-prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Syed Miran Mohammad Shah, A.K. Brohi, Dr Nabi Bux Baloch and Syed Abdullah Shah,” he added.

“Hyderabad is known as the heart of Sindh and one can find a number of good universities in and around it, like University of Sindh, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, LUMHS, Agriculture University Tandojam, Isra University, etc,” he further said.

“Three to four thousand students who are enrolled in the college can now pursue higher education at the same place. The government has decided to present a gift to the citizens of Hyderabad in the shape of a university on completion of the college’s 100 years.

“The Sindh government has set up a number of public universities and upgraded the Sindh Madressatul Islam when it had completed its century,” Mr Khuhro said.

Rana Ansar of the MQM congratulated the Sindh Assembly, Sindh government, Mr Khuhro and Education Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar for meeting the long-standing demand of the youth of Hyderabad by establishing the university.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro and Health Minister Dr Sikander Mandhro recalled that the government of the PPP always supported education and established universities.

When Nusrat Abbasi of the PML-F raised the issue of 470 students of the Iqra Fellowship School, Hijrat Colony, which was shut by the Sindh Education Foundation, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani told her as the motion did not muster support of one fifth members of the house, it could not be discussed.

On that, Ms Abbasi tore the copy of the day’s agenda and staged a walkout. Khurram Sher Zaman of the PTI also walked out with her but returned to the house after some time.

Mr Sher Zaman drew attention of the house towards occupation of the Jamaluddin Afghani Park in Sharfabad for running a restaurant.

On that, Mr Shoro said the PPP government had got 300 parks in Karachi vacated which had been occupied illegally. He gave assurance that the park would be restored soon if there was no legal issue involved.

“No one will be allowed to encroach upon the parks,” he said.

Sheeraz Waheed of the MQM said Rs50 million were given by the government for lifting of garbage in the Korangi district but the state of affairs was shameful and pathetic.

Mr Shoro said the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) had started lifting garbage in South and East districts while Korangi was being paid from the octroi and zila tax share.

“If Korangi Council passes a resolution and authorises the Sindh government to lift garbage, the responsibility can be given to the SSWMB,” he added.

Ghazala Sial of the PPP talked about encroachment at Musafir Khana, situated at Faizabad Colony, Khairpur Mirs district. Transport Minister Nasir Hussain told her that the issue was not his ministry’s domain and the local administration was responsible for setting up a taxi stand there.

Nadeem Razi of the MQM, who had joined the PSP, drew attention of the house towards dilapidated condition of the road from Malir Halt to Malir City where accidents took place regularly.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro said it was the responsibility of the KMC to construct a road there.

“The Sindh government has made 100 per cent payment of its estimated cost of Rs800 million to the KMC. It has even paid additional amount to the KMC for laying sewer lines and given it three months to reconstruct the road.”

Senate election

Speaker Durrani said Senate election will be held on Saturday (today) and advised the members to hand over their mobile phones to the election commissioner before casting their votes.

He also said no camera will be allowed inside the assembly on the occasion including that by the media.

The speaker said all guests will not be entertained on Saturday as there is no assembly session.

Mr Khuhro said the voting would be conducted through secret ballot to preserve sanctity of the vote.

The speaker then adjourned proceedings of the house until Monday.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2018