KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Friday voted on the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Bill (ICB) after traders agreed to bear the levy, ending months of resistance that had stalled the legislation.
Presenting the bill in the House, Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Zia Lanjar said the legislation had remained pending due to reservations expressed by the trader community.
He told the legislature that the matter had been under consideration for the past two months and was now being taken up again after traders agreed to comply with the proposed cess.
READ MORE: Sindh PA approves bill aimed at reducing infrastructure cess
During the presentation of the bill, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) member Muhammad Farooq repeatedly interrupted the proceedings, creating noise in the House.
Ignoring the disruption, the Law Minister continued with the clause-by-clause presentation of the bill, which was subsequently approved by the Assembly.
The House also took up legislation related to the protection of human rights. Lanjar informed the Assembly that the government was proposing the inclusion of judges in the Sindh Human Rights Commission. He said the bill also envisaged an increase in the age limit and an expansion in the number of Sindh Assembly members on the commission from two to three.
In addition, the Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill was introduced and referred to the relevant standing committee for further consideration. Following brief proceedings, the House was adjourned until Monday at 2:00 pm.
Earlier, the Sindh Assembly session, presided over by Panel of Chairpersons member Rehana Laghari, began with members paying tribute to Pakistan Army personnel who were martyred during last year’s Maarka-e-Haq. The members requested recitation of Fateha for the departed souls.
No Question Hour was scheduled on Friday. During the session, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member Amir Siddiqui moved an adjournment motion, drawing attention to the growing presence of beggars at traffic signals in Karachi and calling for strict legal action. Opposing the motion, the Law Minister said the issue did not qualify as a matter of urgent public importance, and the chair subsequently rejected the motion.
During the proceedings, the Law Minister also read out bills earlier approved by the Governor of Sindh and formally laid them before the House. The Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill was again referred to the relevant standing committee for further scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab arrived at the Sindh Assembly on Friday riding an electric bike. He travelled from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) headquarters to the Assembly to attend a meeting.
Speaking to the media, the mayor said it was his first time riding a motorcycle, adding that he had previously ridden a bicycle. He said he would obtain a helmet and a motorcycle driving licence in the future. He also disclosed that 20 electric bikes had been provided to KMC employees and that more would be distributed in the coming days.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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