Sindh cabinet approves amendment in different bills

KARACHI: Sindh cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, here on Monday discussed some amendments in different bills and approved to table and pass them in the assembly session this evening.

The meeting was attended by all provincial ministers, chief secretary, IG Sindh, all the provincial secretaries and others at New Sindh Secretariat.

The bills discussed include the Anti-Terrorism Act (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2016, Sindh Development & Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017, Sindh Shaheed Recognition & Compensation Act 2014, The Sindh Occupational Safety & Health Bill-2017, Amendment in Sindh Coal Authority 1993, change of nomenclature in The Altaf Hussain University Act 2014, Amendment in Sindh Revenue Board Act, 2010, Sindh Rented Premises (Amendment) Bill 2017, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Human Resource Research & Development Board Act 2013 and Jacobabad Institute of Medical Science Act 2013.

The Home Department brought the anti-Terrorism Act (Sindh Amendment) Bill 2016 in the cabinet. It is about making provision for protection of judges, counsel, public prosecutor, witness and persons concerned with court proceedings. The chief minister said that these provisions were indispensable for dispensation of justice. He and his cabinet supported the amendment.

The Minister Excise & Taxation Dr Mukesh Chawla presented Sindh Development and Infrastructure Cess Act-2017. This would replace Infrastructure Cess. The cabinet approved it to introduce in the assembly.

Health Minister Dr Sikandar briefed the cabinet about the amendment in The Jacobabad Institute of Medical Science Act 2013. He proposed few amendments to enhance the function of the Institute. Under the amendment include changes in the structure of Governing body, academic councils structure and such other administrative decisions.

The Home Department proposed amendment in Section 3(5) of the Sindh Shaheed Recognition & Compensation Act, 2014. The means the government wants to appoint at least two members of the family being the legal heirs of Shaheed persons into service in relaxation of the conditions of qualification and age. On this the chief minister said that a policeman who lays his life in the line of his duty for Sindh and its people deserves to be properly protected. In his life he must know that his family would be properly looked even if his lays his life.  There were some suggestions for which the chief minister constituted a committee under Dr Sikandar Mendhro to revisit the draft bill.

The law department presented Sindh Rented premises (Amendment) Bill-2016 under which landlord has been given protection. It was observed that the frauds committed by the tenant have put adverse impact on business of renting out the properties. The chief minister also formed a committee under Dr Sikandar Mendhro to remove some of the lacunas from the draft bill.

The amendments in SRB Act and Sindh Coal Authority are purely legal and some job security has been proposed for the employees.