KARACHI, Feb 27: The Sindh Assembly unanimously passed the Sindh Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Bill, 2013 on Wednesday.

The bill (No 13 of 2013) provides for regulation, removal, storage and transplantation of human organs and tissues for therapeutic purposes. It was passed in view of the 18th amendment to the constitution because “it was expedient to enact a law on the subject after devolvement”.

Speaking on the general principles of the bill, over half a dozen lawmakers eulogised the services of Dr Prof Adeebul Hasan Rizvi and the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation.

Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that it would be a great service to humanity if people donated human organs for transplant.

Sassui Palejo said that President Asif Ali Zardari and the National Assembly speaker had already donated their organs for transplantation after death.

Syed Sardar Ahmad termed Dr Rizvi as the only angel in the country who seeks God’s love in the service of humanity.

He said this law would save lives of many poor people whose organs and kidneys were being removed by taking advantage of their poverty.

Shama Mithani, Bachal Shah, Dr Sikander Shoro and Marvi Rashdi said that donation of human organs after death was a great service to humanity.

Pir Mazharul Haq said that in view of the great services being provided to humanity without any discrimination not only to the people of Sindh but also all those coming from other provinces the government had increased the budget of the SIUT to Rs2 billion from Rs1 billion.