KARACHI, June 19: The Sindh Assembly session on Thursday, which was first day of general discussion on the budget for financial year 2008-09 and supplementary budget 2007-08, turned out to be quite lively when participants from both sides of the house equally highlighted pressing issues being faced by the people and the province.

They stressed the need to root out sifarshi culture, adopt a merit-based system, and utilize development funds with honesty so that the objectives of rule of law and good governance could be achieved.

Before Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro called it a day to reassemble at 9am on Friday to continue the discussion, a total of 13 members – 11 from the treasury (six from the Pakistan People’s Party, five from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement) and two from the opposition benches – took part in the discussion.

Mr Khuhro, in the past assembly as leader of the opposition, used to appeal to the chair to hold a minimum four hour sitting. True to his words he made it clear to Law Minister Ayaz Soomro when the session was called to order two hours behind its scheduled time at 11.30am, that the session would have a sitting of four hours. “If the proceedings start late, they will have to sit and make up the time,” he said.

After recitation from the Holy Qur’an and Na’at, two new members, who were elected unopposed – Ameer Ali Shah from PS 44 (Matiari) and Sharjeel Memon from PS-62 (Tharparker), both from the PPP, were administered oath.

They were greeted along with Jam Madad Ali on his becoming leader of the opposition. Among those offering felicitations were Ayaz Soomro, Senior Minister and PPP parliamentary party leader Pir Mazharul Haq, and MQM’s parliamentary party leader and minister Sardar Ahmad.

Expressing gratitude to his colleagues for reposing confidence in him and for the kind sentiments expressed by members of the treasury, Jam Madad Ali assured them of full cooperation on behalf of his colleagues in finding solutions to the problems being faced by the people of Sindh.

‘Political victimization’

However, he also pointed out what he claimed was political victimisation of the district nazim of Umarkot and taluka Tando Bagho by registering “baseless” FIRs and also raised the issue of the harassment of eminent social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, who had recently been issued notices by the Auqaf department regarding rent payments of the Edhi Centre in Mithadar.

The law minister said the PPP believed in democracy and had never indulged in the politics of victimisation, even though, as he claimed, the party had suffered the most. “We will hold a fair inquiry into the matter and the complaints will be addressed.”

Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar, on a point of order, asked the ministers, MPAs and bureaucrats to change the fancy number plates and tinted glasses from their vehicles.

Pir Mazhar said the PPP was pursuing a philosophy of reconciliation, which was the guiding principle of Benazir Bhutto, which was why they had extended a hand of friendship to all, including the MQM.

MPA Shama Mithani, on her point of order, drew attention towards the escalating price of milk and suggested that a committee of MPAs should be formed to bring the milk price under control, which appeared to be beyond the control of the city government.

Shamim Ara said that cases registered against her and her family by previous government on “fictitious charges” should be withdrawn.

Humera Alwani asked about the recommendations of the committee, which had been formed to update the rules of business and include provisions for call attention notices.

Information Minister Shazia Marri, showing betel-nut packets being sold with the photographs of PPP leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, stressed the need for administrative action as pictures of the leaders could not be allowed for commercial use. Anwar Mehar of the PPP termed the budget “people friendly,” referring to the measures proposed for employment, reduction of poverty, improving agricultural production and increasing the MPA fund from Rs5 million to Rs10 million.

Pointing out that power was the province’s biggest problem, he suggested that Sindh should generate its own electricity through coal-fired power plants.

Mr Mehar also suggested that the governor hand over control of secondary and higher secondary boards of education to the Sindh government as was the case in other provinces.

He also lamented the province’s law and order situation, particularly the issue of tribal clashes.

Jam Tamachi of the PPP said that during the last decade or so, all institutions had been demolished and whatever was left was decimated by the caretaker government during its three-month rule.

He called for an end to sifarshi culture and urged that the appointments of SHOs should only be made by the SPs.

Jam Tamachi termed Wapda the “biggest enemy of Sindh,” which had cut off power supply to villages for no mistake of the common man, who was left to suffer power outages for 10 to 12 hours. He suggested that an operation be carried out in the irrigation department to end water theft.

He decried the situation of roads in the interior and deplored the fact that the education system had been “destroyed.”

He said the situation of the health sector was no better as most basic health units were lying vacant as there were no doctors, medicines and other staff or equipment.

‘Hard work’ required

Jam Tamachi said that whatever he had said was not a disclosure but in the knowledge of all the ministers. He pointed out that people had a lot of expectations from the government, which could not be met with public dealing exercises but only through hard work.

“The issues cannot be resolved by paying flying visits to districts, but only if ministers ensure their presence in every district for two to three days to attend and address the people’s problems.”

He lamented that when in the opposition, they had awareness of all the issues but after coming into power, their wavelength had totally changed.

Heer Ismail Soho of the MQM, referring to allocations in different heads for implementation of public welfare schemes, praised the government for presenting a budget which would benefit the common man.

She also mentioned water problems of tail-end farmers of Thatta and Badin, where Ghora Bari, Shah Bander and Keti Bander areas were at the verge of destruction. She demanded a special package for Thatta and Badin districts.

Shahryar Khan Mehar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q advised the government not to mock the people by declaring the budget as a “poor man’s budget,” as there was nothing to provide relief to people. He said wheat flour was not available to them and by increasing GST on all articles, prices would be increased.

He said that although 65 per cent of Sindh’s people live off agriculture, this sector was ignored in the budget.

He suggested the need for creating a new force on the pattern of the motorway police, which would help in reducing unemployment.

Stephen Peter of the MQM said that in the last budget, Rs100 million were allocated for minorities but could not be utilised. He suggested that before preparing next year’s budget, all MPAs should be asked to submit schemes which were needed most in their localities

He suggested that five per cent of development funds from each MPA should be reserved for minority areas.

Dr Sikandar Mandhro of the PPP said that out of a total 139 oil wells in Pakistan, 112 are in Sindh and out of 140 gas fields, 107 are located in Sindh, which produces 56 per cent and 71 per cent respectively.

He said: “we are not serious about getting our rights. Our economy is slipping. If we want to improve the situation in the province, we have to change our approach.”

He lauded the PPP-MQM coalition and said it augurs well as both parties had the people’s mandate and if the leadership of both parties demonstrated large-heartedness and forgot past hatred, they could deliver.

Qazi Shamsuddin Rajar of the PML-F, Mazahir Amir Khan of MQM, Ghulam Mohammad Shaliani of PPP, Ghulam Mujadid Asran of PPP, Mohammad Alim-ur-Rehman of the MQM and Mohammad Tahir Qureshi of the MQM also spoke.