Sindh Assembly approves bill for street children's shelter homes

Resolution passed against issuance of identity cards to illegal immigrants

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly passed on Tuesday eight different bills, including the Sindh Street Children Shelter Home Bill, 2018 to protect the rights of street children, establish shelters for them and promote their welfare until they turn 18 years old.

The bill for street children's shelter homes was moved by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Dr Seema Zia. According to the bill, the government would establish 'Hamara Ghar' shelter homes in two phases. In the first phase that extends to five years, the shelter homes would be established in Karachi and Hyderabad, while in the second phase, they would be established in rest of the divisions of Sindh.

According to the bill, the shelter homes would be managed through public private partnership. Facilities, including education till matriculation, sports and recreational facilities, and vocational skills would be provided to children. "There will be a bifurcation in the facilities for the boys and girls within the shelter home and [the] government will be responsible for their welfare, education [and] health until they have attained the age of 18," reads the proposed law.



The board of directors of Hamara Ghar would comprise the social welfare minister, two members of the opposition in the assembly, a retired judge of high court, retired armed services person not less than a rank of colonel, retired bureaucrat equal to the rank of secretary, veteran media person, seasoned banker or economist who must have served at an eminent position, serving or retired social scientist and uncontroversial scholar in the country.

The bill further reads that the board's chairperson would be apolitical who would be nominated by the board within 30 days of its formation.

Other bills passed in the assembly included those related to formation of universities and educational institutes, and others. The House also passed a resolution, moved by Pakistan Muslim League - Functional MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi against the issuance of national identity cards to illegal immigrants living in Sindh.