Sindh governor approves Coronavirus Emergency Relief Ordinance

• According to the new ordinance, fine for violating any clause has been increased to Rs one million.
• It would be mandatory for school owners to reduce fees by 20 percent.
• As part of the ordinance it has been mandatory that the private sector will not be able to sack or terminate their employees.

(Karachi) Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has signed and approved the Coronavirus Emergency Relief Ordinance, media reported on Friday.

According to the new ordinance, fine for violating any clause has been increased to Rs one million. In addition, it would be mandatory for school owners to reduce fees by 20 percent. Besides, the payment of rent of shops and houses will be temporarily suspended and decreased.

Similarly, as part of the ordinance it has been mandatory that the private sector will not be able to sack or terminate their employees while private companies will also be liable to pay salaries to their employees on time.

On April 27, the draft ordinance was approved by the provincial cabinet with the aim to provide relief to the people during the ongoing lockdown in the province.

However, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail rejected the relief ordinance and returned to the provincial government along with objections.

He stated that giving relief in electricity and gas bills falls under the domain of the federal government. He also stated that federal government had already announced relief for the needy people affected by the lockdown.