Fourth budget debate sitting: Sindh Assembly sees heated exchanges

KARACHI: The general debate on the Sindh government’s budget for the fiscal year 2026–27 continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, marked by strong defences from ministers, sharp opposition criticism over Karachi’s share of resources, and a major controversy “body-in-a-sack” remarks that briefly marred the proceedings.

Initially, the session, presided over by Awais Qadir Shah, began with the adoption of a condolence resolution for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) legislator, Naeem Ahmed Kharal, who passed away a day earlier. Members paid tribute to his role in strengthening democracy and party politics.

Tensions escalated during the budget speech of a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member, whose remarks referring to so-called “body-in-a-sack” killings triggered loud protests from treasury benches. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia ul Hassan Lanjar asked the chair to expunge the remarks, after which Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, who was presiding over the session at the time of ruckus, ordered them removed from the official record. PPP members demanded a retraction, while the MQM member maintained he had not insulted anyone.

Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar said the remarks had already aired on television and announced that an inquiry would be ordered. Another MQM member said the investigation was welcome but insisted that his party’s stance should also be heard and that the source of provocation be identified. MQM members staged a brief walkout before returning to the house.

Industries and Commerce Minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo said the provincial government had presented a balanced and realistic budget despite severe economic pressures. He said Sindh had transferred about Rs260 billion to the federal government under the NFC award, describing it as a major contribution. He added that Rs8 billion had been released for victims of the Gul Plaza tragedy.

He accused the federal government of discrimination against Sindh, citing gas loadshedding and the province’s exclusion from the motorway network. He said repeated promises to build the Sukkur–Hyderabad Motorway had not been fulfilled and proposed the creation of a provincial motorway authority. He warned that calls to hand Karachi over to the federation were against Sindh’s interests and said ending the Benazir Income Support Programme would harm the poor.

Social Welfare Minister Mir Tariq Talpur said his department had issued senior citizen cards and was establishing shelter homes for the elderly, with one already completed in Karachi. He said the Child Protection Helpline had received more than 270,000 calls and was operational in 30 districts, while over 8,000 drug addicts had been treated with the support of the Anti-Narcotics Force. He described ethnic politics as the main hurdle to Karachi’s development.

Auqaf and Zakat Minister Riaz Hussain Shah Sheerazi said 35 schemes were underway in his department, 14 of which had been completed. He said Rs660 million in zakat funds were being provided to hospitals and assistance would be given to 110,000 beneficiaries. He added that funds had been allocated for a protective embankment from Gharo to Ali Bandar to counter sea intrusion, while renovation work at the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine would be completed in the coming year.

Universities and Education Boards Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo said the number of universities in Sindh had increased from 10 before 2008 to 30, with campuses rising from two to 18. Student enrollment had grown from 35,000 to over 137,000. He said Rs48 billion had been allocated for universities in the new budget and noted that federal higher education funding, frozen for nine years, had only recently been restored. He said MDCAT examinations were conducted transparently and no public university seat was currently vacant.

Special Assistant for Minority Affairs Dr Shyam Sunder Advani said 80 development schemes were in progress, with 30 completed. He said scholarships had been awarded to 650 students and Hindu religious content included in school curricula. He added that Sindh led the country in minority-friendly legislation.

Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed, speaking in the debate, termed the budget reasonable under prevailing conditions and said the five-percent job quota for minorities was a gift of President Asif Ali Zardari.

MQM members focused heavily on Karachi’s civic problems. Arsalan Perwaiz said roads were broken, sewerage lines overflowing and land encroachments increasing with alleged political backing. He said University of Karachi teachers had protested for 40 days without response from the government. He called the budget hollow and demanded a separate motorcycle lane on Shahrah-e-Bhutto and a new road linking Jamshoro to Malir.

Another MQM member alleged massive corruption in the BRT Red Line project, claiming its cost had risen to Rs80 billion and citing correspondence purportedly from the Asian Development Bank. Engineer Usman said Sindh had 750,000 government employees and projected sales tax revenue of Rs775 billion, most of it from Karachi. He demanded that 37 percent of provincial spending be allocated to the city, in line with its population, and described the budget as anti-poor.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026