Several private resolutions moved in the Provincial Assembly of Sindh by opposition members during the Private Members’ Day on Tuesday were approved, while many motions were withdrawn after ministers’ assurances.
The session, presided over by PA Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, witnessed intense debate on prolonged electricity outages, gas loadshedding, workplace harassment, education issues and environmental concerns.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Shabbir Qureshi tabled a private resolution seeking relaxation of the maximum age limit for government jobs by at least 15 years.
However, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said that although the proposal was commendable, a Supreme Court ruling on the matter had to be followed. The resolution was later rejected.
Pakistan Peoples Party member Asif Musa moved a resolution demanding an end to unannounced gas loadshedding across Karachi, particularly in Baldia Town. He said children are often unable to prepare for school in the morning due to gas shortages, adding that the Constitution guarantees priority rights over natural gas to the province where it is produced.
The speaker directed that the resolution be referred to a parliamentary committee, while Lanjar said officials of the gas utility would be summoned before the committee during their meeting on Thursday.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) member Quratulain presented a resolution calling for establishing anti-harassment committees in institutions after a recent incident involving the harassment of a polio worker. She also voiced concerns about harassment faced by female students at universities.
Lanjar said anti-harassment laws are already in force for both public and private institutions, and assured the House that the provincial ombudsman is available to address such complaints. Following the minister’s assurance, the motion was withdrawn.
MQM-P member Farah Sohail raised the issue of textbooks allegedly not being supplied to schools operating under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah said the government has been providing textbooks to KMC schools for several years despite those schools not falling under its formal responsibility. Following his clarification, the resolution was withdrawn.
PTI member Sajjad Soomro tabled a resolution urging the government to promote industries manufacturing solar panels and modern power storage batteries, and to introduce legislation for the disposal of used batteries. The government supported the resolution, which was subsequently passed.
Another resolution moved by Farah called for greater representation of women in standing committees, particularly the energy committee. Lanjar expressed the government’s support, and the resolution was unanimously adopted.
MQM-P member Muhammad Owais proposed that schools’ summer vacations begin in May instead of June. The education minister said the matter had already been reviewed by the education department’s steering committee, which decided to maintain the current schedule because private schools are conducting examinations in May. The resolution was later withdrawn.
MQM-P member Maaz Mehboob sought the adoption of a resolution over 11 Pakistani seafarers being held hostage by Somali pirates. However, Lanjar said the issue falls under the federal government’s jurisdiction, particularly the interior and foreign affairs ministries, and requested that the motion be withdraw.
