Sindh cabinet moves to lift student union ban

Draft law proposes to prevent students from engaging in political activities

KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet approved on Monday a proposal to lift the ban on student unions, which has been in place for over 35 years.

Murtaza Wahab, the law adviser to the Sindh chief minister, presented a draft bill, titled "The Sindh Students Union Bill 2019", which aims to regulate student unions in the province during the meeting, which was chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. According to the bill, there would be a student union comprising seven to 11 bonafide students, elected by the student body each year, in every educational institution.

The draft bill stated that these unions are meant to work for the social and academic welfare of the institution's students, ensure that the rights and interests of all students are represented and organise social, cultural, intellectual or other extra-curricular events for the benefit of students. They should also promote and strengthen relations between students and their institution, assist the institution in maintaining discipline and ensure that teachers and staff are respected.

Sindh Assembly calls for lifting ban on student unions

The draft law further proposes that members of the student unions should not indulge in any political or prejudicial activities. However, cabinet members pointed out that most college students were above 18 years of age and had the right to vote. They asked how it was possible to prevent eligible voters from taking part in political activities.

In response, the CM asked the cabinet to approve the draft law and introduce it to the Sindh Assembly before sending it to the Standing Committee on Law for further deliberation. He also directed Wahab to seek input from educationists, political scientists and other members of civil society, in order to create an 'ideal' law that could rid educational institutions of the effects of martial law and allow students to flourish.

The cabinet approved the bill and sent it to the assembly.

Sugarcane prices

The agriculture department requested the cabinet to fix sugarcane prices for 2019-2020. Sindh Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu stated that sugar prices had gone up because of the increased price of sugarcane.

CM Shah said that the minimum prices must be enough to allow the sugarcane farmers to make a reasonable profit, instead of forcing them to move away from cultivating the crop. The cabinet fixed the minimum price of sugarcane at Rs192 per 40 kilogrammes for the crop season.

The agriculture department also approached the cabinet to release funds for cash freight support for the export of surplus sugar stocks. The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association had asked the federal government for support of Rs20 per kilogramme of sugar exported due to low prices in the international market. Cash freight support of Rs10.7 per kilogramme had been set, which was to be equally shared by the federal and provincial governments. As a result, Rs3.393 billion had to be paid to the State Bank of Pakistan by the Sindh government. The cabinet approved the release of these funds, subject to clearance by the National Accountability Bureau, which has initiated an inquiry into the matter.

Prison rules

The Sindh Home Department presented the draft rules for the Sindh Prison and Correction Services Act 2019, which propose safe and secure custody for prisoners while ensuring their constitutional rights.

The draft calls for assisting the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners and helping them reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens through reformation programmes. It also proposes the early release of elderly prisoners who have completed half of their sentence, in accordance with international standards.

Water pipeline project

The energy department told the cabinet that a Kuwaiti company has offered to invest $130 million to lay a 65-kilometre water pipeline from Nabisar to Vanjhiar so that the Chinese company undertaking the project could complete it in time. The cabinet provisionally approved this on the condition that the project is completed within a year.

The energy minister also said that the Sindh government had initiated a project for the generation of 1,320 megawatts of power from Thar Coalfield Block-I.

University of art

In pictures: Student Solidarity March calls for restoration of unions

The cabinet approved the proposal for the formation of Shaheed Allah Buksh Soomro University of Art, Design and Heritage in Jamshoro, which is currently the Centre of Excellence in Art and Design under the control of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology. The proposal has been referred to the provincial assembly.

Allocation of forest land

Meanwhile, Sindh Forest Minister Syed Nasir Shah said that the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) needed 15 acres of reserve forest land for 15 years in order to carry out drilling activities to search for oil and gas in Larkana. He asked for a no objection certificate for this activity. He also requested permission for SSGCL to lay a gas pipeline from Ayesha Gas Field to Golarchi, across eight kilometres of forest land in Badin.

The chief minister asked for the law under which approval was being sought and, receiving an unsatisfactory response, directed the forest department to study the relevant law under which forest land could be given for commercial purposes and raise the matter again in the next cabinet meeting. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2019.