Provincial Assembly passes Sindh budget 2007-08

The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday passed 2007-2008 Budget of Sindh after adopting Sindh Finance Bill, 2007 in its session with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair.
Sindh Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed in his brief speech, while winding up the general discussion on Sindh Finance Bill, said the government has levied no new tax in the budget and taxes on hotels and trucks or trailers have been rationalised which will have no major impact on the public. Seven members from the opposition also took part in the discussion.
Earlier, during question hour, Provincial Revenue Minister Dr Irfan Gul Magsi told the House that a comprehensive project costing Rs 600 million has been initiated for computerisation of revenue record which would be completed in four years.
During the last four months, he informed, the illegal allotment of 150,000 acres of land has been cancelled, while a special cell has been established to scrutinise and investigate bogus and fake land allotments and control the corruption in this regard.
He said that thousands of acres of government land which was occupied illegally has been retrieved by the department, while action is being taken against persons involved. He said Bandal Island near Karachi is our property. It is with the Sindh government and has not been handed over to any foreign company. However, a committee is looking into the proposals for development projects on this island and the matter will be decided after its report is received.
The minister informed that 25 percent compensation has been paid to affectees of RBOD, while remaining amount would be paid after required process is finalised in this regard. Speaker Muzaffar Hussain Shah constituted a special 12-member committee to review Tenancy Act and present its report in the next session.
The committee comprised Ali Ahmed Maher, Jam Mehtab Ali, Pir Bux Junajo, Nuzhat Pathan, Talib Imam, Poonjo Mal, Ali Mardan Shah, Jalal Shah Jamote, Sharfunnisa Leghari, Naseer Khan Khoso, Jam Madad Ali and Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi.
The House decided that the powers of Special Committee for Hawksbay Scheme-42 would be exercised by the Standing Committee on Planning and Development as the Special committee has failed to perform. Later, the Speaker read out the order of the Sindh Governor proroguing the session.