KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday unanimously passed two important bills; one aimed at improving healthcare quality and the other protecting natural resources and environment.

The health bill titled the Sindh Healthcare Commission Bill, 2013, creates a commission to spearhead healthcare reforms by improving quality of health services and banning quackery in all its forms and manifestations in the private and public sectors.

Under its laws, any person who fails to comply with the final decision of the commission may attract a fine up to Rs500,000. The commission may impose a fine of up to Rs200,000 on a complainant, either an aggrieved party or a healthcare service provider, if proved false.

Sindh Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, after tabling report of special committee on the bill, cited a case of exploitation without mentioning names. He said a surgeon demanded Rs150,000 for surgery. After the procedure, the patient had to get a VIP room as the hospital had no private room but to his surprise the surgeon charged him Rs50,000 extra for the operation saying his fee for the operation for patients of VIP room was Rs200,000.

The minister said the new law would check this kind of exploitation by surgeons or hospitals.

The Environmental Bill, 2014, lays down rules for the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources and improvement of environment by controlling pollution.

The bill envisages setting up of the Sindh Environmental Protection Council to undertake inquiries into environmental issues, either of its own accord or upon receiving complaints from any persons or organisation, request foreign assistance with the government approval to achieve environmental objectives and make recommendations to the government to impose taxes, duties, cess and other levies.

Dr Mandhro said the council, to be formed and headed by the chief minister, would protect natural resources, control pollution and take steps to improve environment.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said in response to a question by MQM’s Heer Soho that the government had held a number of meetings with experts and technocrats and majority of them were of the opinion that the barrage structure could endure pressure for 50 years more.

He said the government had consulted with Chinese experts who were also of the opinion that the barrage would not collapse in near future and also invited British engineers to study the structure.

PPP lawmaker Nadir Laghari, however, dismissed the assurance and said whether one agreed or not the barrage had outlived its lifespan and faced serious threats.

MQM’s Sumita Afzal did not press her motion after the parliamentary affairs minister pointed out that summoning session of the assembly was the prerogative of the governor whose conduct could not be questioned under Article 73 of the Constitution.

Leader of Opposition Syed Faisal Sabzwari and PML-F MPA Nusrat Sehar Abbasi moved a motion to discuss deteriorating law and order situation in different parts of Sindh.

The motion was admitted but the date to discuss it would be fixed later. The last item on the agenda was election to standing committees which was deferred. The house was adjourned at 3.50pm to reassemble on Tuesday.