SUKKUR, July 28: Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro has defended the role of senate’s standing committees, saying they are fully independent and can probe corruption cases referred to them.

He was talking to journalists after laying the foundation stone of the Pakistan Institute of Ophthalmology at the Al-Shifa Hospital here on Thursday.

He said corruption cases which were proved would be forwarded to the NAB.

Mr Soomro dismissed speculations about postponement of the local body election. He maintained that the devolution of power plan had benefited people.

About the role of the senate, he said standing committees were making a good contribution on tasks given to them. He said senators’ foreign visits had also helped them improve their performance.

Earlier, speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony, he urged philanthropists and well to do people to come forward and help institutions like the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.

The senate chairman also distributed merit certificates and shields among outstanding doctors and paramedics of the hospital. He also gave away shields to Dr Agha Nisar Pathan and Dr Moin for their services to the hospital free of charge.

He also visited the Institute of Business Administration where he was briefed by the director of the institute about its performance since 1996.

He praised the IBA for imparting quality education to students. He was told that during the last nine years, more than 90 per cent of MBAs of the IBA had been employed in multinational companies, banks and reputed financial institutions of the country.

He said the government was encouraging the private sector to establish educational institutions, especially in information technology and business management fields.