Sindh Assembly makes masks mandatory in public

House passes four bills, resolution against KE

KARACHI:

Passing four different laws on Monday, the Sindh Assembly pushed forward an amendment to the Sindh Covid-19 Emergency Relief Bill, 2020, making it mandatory for citizens to wear masks in public places.

Moving the amendment, Sindh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla explained it was meant to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

The amendment further stated that any person employed at any establishment would be permitted paid leave for the duration of their isolation if they tested positive for Covid-19.

“The health department shall launch a campaign to motivate people to get tested and wear masks,” the law added.

The bill was passed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in Sindh earlier this year.

Passing legislation

The Sindh Safe Cities Authorities Bill, 2020, was also passed in order to establish an authority for the purpose of constructing, developing and maintaining a city-wide integrated command, control and communication system in Sindh’s cities.

“With a network of CCTV cameras in place, the government will be able to ensure the safety and security of the people,” claimed Chawla as he briefed the house about the bill.

According to the law, the Safe City Authority will also review the procurement of CCTV cameras. It will be chaired by the Sindh chief minister, who holds the portfolio of provincial home minister, while also comprising the Sindh IGP, chief secretary, information and technology minister, home secretary and others.

Chawla also moved the Drugs (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2020. “After the 18th Amendment, it is our prerogative to make laws and amendments. Today, I am moving an amendment to the Drug Act, 1976, under which the Sindh government will now gain control over drug courts,” he said.

Moreover, the assembly passed the Sindh Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management Bill, 2020, empowering the provincial government to issue hunting licences. This power earlier lay with the Centre.

Resolution against K Electric

Earlier, the house passed a resolution against load-shedding in Karachi, condemning K-Electric (KE) and demanding its forensic audit. The resolution was jointly moved by Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal.

“Citizens are miserable due to unannounced load-shedding. KE earns billions from the city but is not serving the people,” said MQM-P MPA Mohammad Hussain.

Several lawmakers also demanded that the Centre permit the Sindh government to generate electricity in the metropolis.

Monsoon woes

Earlier, as the session started, opposition leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi requested the speaker to adjourn the agenda and focus solely on the rain and subsequent collapse of Karachi’s infrastructure.

Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani replied that time would be provided after the agenda, but Naqvi insisted, adding, “We know you will prorogue the session today.”

Irked, Durrani asked how Naqvi knew he would prorogue the session, to which Naqvi said he learned this from the Governor House.

Calling it a breach of trust, the speaker said he would discuss the issue with the Sindh governor.

Meanwhile, Grand Democratic Alliance MPA Nand Kumar Goklani threatened to besiege the CM House if government jobs were not provided on merit, as he moved a call attention notice about 60,000 jobs promised in 2017-18 that had still not materialised.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2020.