KARACHI: In a bid to address the opposition’s concerns, the Sindh Assembly on Friday announced to form a six-member House committee to review the e-challan system and hefty fines for traffic violations in Karachi, as the government again assured the legislature of its sincere efforts.
Sindh Home and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar told the Sindh Assembly that the provincial government is making sincere efforts to improve Karachi’s traffic management.
He noted that the Leader of the Opposition had recently called for forming a committee on the issue, and the government had agreed to the proposal. The new committee will include opposition lawmakers Iftikhar Alam and Talha Ahmed, while Asif Khan, Sadia Javed, and Farooq Awan will represent the PPP. Lanjar will serve as the committee’s chairman.
He said the purpose of the e-challan system is not revenue collection but to develop traffic discipline among citizens and ensure full compliance with traffic laws. He informed the House that the e-challan system will soon be expanded to Hyderabad and other districts. He added that court cases regarding e-challans are under way.
Friday’s session began under the chairmanship of Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah. Taking the floor on a point of order, Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi termed an incident at a Sujawal open katcheri “shameful,” alleging that a man was beaten “like a football” in the presence of police after he attempted to lodge a complaint.
However, Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon said that ministers are visiting districts to hear and resolve public issues through open Katcheries. He confirmed the incident but said there was no loss of life and that the matter is being investigated. “Whoever is found responsible will not be spared,” he added.
Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho told the House that the Assembly has a lobby for men legislators while ladies lawmakers are short of privacy. She also complained about women’s washrooms are in poor condition and must be fixed.
Speaker Awais Qadir Shah responded that the Assembly’s budget has been increased by the Chief Minister and promised to provide better facilities to both treasury and opposition members. He said a major conference is planned next year and reiterated his support for women’s autonomy.
Multiple call-attention notices were also taken up during the session, covering public-interest matters. MQM lawmaker Qurat-ul-Ain said Karachi University’s transport department is in a deteriorated state, with only 30 point buses available for thousands of students, compared to Sindh University’s 50 buses for 25,000 students.
Universities Minister, Muhammad Ismail Rahoo responded that KU has 54 point buses, including two from Korangi, and that eight new buses have also been purchased. He reminded the House that universities are autonomous bodies and not directly under the provincial government. He said the government has allocated Rs 41 billion for universities across Sindh this year, including Rs3.9 billion for Karachi University.
Responding to a call-attention notice from PPP lawmaker Samita Afzal on protecting turtle nests, Parliamentary Secretary Heer Soho said the species’ reproduction rate has improved significantly, with approximately 0.8 million eggs laid.
MQM’s Sabir Qaimkhani asked why the indoor unit of Kohsar General Hospital in Qasimabad is inactive and highlighted the absence of cardiac facilities in Latifabad.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho replied that the Kohsar Hospital has functioning facilities and has treated a large number of patients since January. She pledged that a chest-pain unit will be established soon.
MPA Sabir Qaimkhani also sought clarification on prolonged delays in the construction of Kohsar Medical College in Latifabad.
Works and Services Parliamentary Secretary Farrukh Shah said the institution is officially called the Establishment College. Construction delays occurred due to court orders. The project has now been transferred from the Health Department to Works and Services. He assured that a summary will be sent to the Chief Minister’s House within a week to expedite completion of delayed schemes.
MQM’s Naseer Ahmed raised concerns about illegal connections in water pipelines in PS-118 Manghopir. Local Government Parliamentary Secretary Qasim Siraj Soomro said illegal hydrants had created a major mafia in the past, and multiple cases have been registered against those involved.
He said Karachi needs 11 million gallons of water daily, and the manual system makes management difficult. Meetings with district administrations will be held next week to address the complaints.
PPP’s Ghulam Qadir Chandio objected to HESCO conducting night time raids with Rangers to recover electricity bills and detaining consumers. He demanded a mechanism for bill collection.
The Speaker said a committee already exists on the issue and directed the chairman, Fayaz Bhutto, and the Assembly Secretary to convene a meeting next week.
During the proceedings, Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar introduced the Adam Institute of Social and Management Sciences Bill 2025, which was referred to the relevant standing committee.
Adil Askari reminded the House that the Assembly had approved a technical allowance for engineers, to be implemented from 2025, and said that the Chief Minister, Speaker, Senior Minister, and Opposition Leader themselves are engineers.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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