PA opens debate on budget 2024-25

PPP members hail budget as balanced, opposition comes up with various snags

KARACHI:

General debate on the financial year 2024-25 has started in the Sindh Assembly.

On Thursday, the session began with a delay of 18 minutes from the scheduled time with Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah in the chair.

Government and opposition members participated in the discussion. At the beginning of the session, the attendance of members remained very low.

Opening the general debate on the budget, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Sohrab Sarki said that PPP has presented a balanced budget.

PPP member Tanzeela Ume Habiba said that common people were in focus when the Sindh government presented the budget. She said that the government should complete the old schemes before initiating the new ones. She said that education has been given importance in the budget.

MPA Sir Buland Khan said that Baldia has a huge population but unfortunately no scheme related to water supply to this area has been announced.

Member of Assembly Syed Hasan Ali Shah said that Bilawal Bhutto had promised to establish NICVD in every district of the province, but unfortunately there is no NICVD in Nowshehro Feroze, the government should pay attention to this, he said.

PPP member Yasmeen Shah stressed on the need of technical education in Badin.
She mentioned, there is one teacher for every hundred students. However, she mentioned, steps have been taken to solve the problems.

MQM member Bilqis Mukhtar pointed out that Karachi is facing shortage of 560 million gallons of water. She said that there should have been a pre-budget discussion and all members should have been taken on board while drafting and finalising the budget. She said, Karachi's water issue has not been given priority or importance in the budget.

After the break for Zohr prayers, Deputy Speaker Naveed was in the chair.

MQM member Abdul Basit said, there is no mentionable allocation of funds for the water scheme for Karachi this year
as well. He said that buildings are constructed for government officials, but people need water. Only Rs200 million have
been allocated for the social welfare scheme.

PPP's Farooq Awan said that skill development scheme is not included in the Sindh budget, law and order should have been the first priority.

Rashid Khilji of MQM said that 94-year-old Qaim Ali Shah is present in the House, but ministers are absent.

He said that the funds for Civil Hospital Hyderabad have been slashed, textbooks are not provided in schools. Water scheme for Hyderabad was not included.

PPP's Saima Agha said that the Sindh government has allocated a huge amount in the budget to provide electricity to remote areas through solar energy, which is a good move. Solar parks will be built in different parts of the province.

PPP's Rukhsana Shah stressed on the need to increase facilities at Keenjhar. There are no good restaurants. Many unfortunate incidents happen because there are no lifeguards.

Muhammad Dilawar of MQM pointed out that there are no ministers and secretaries in the House. During the time of Qaim Ali Shah, the secretaries' galleries used to be full.

He feared there would be riots on water in future. Later, the session was adjourned till 10am on Friday.