As the Sindh Assembly started its pre-budget discussion on Monday, as many as 14 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle forwarded their ideas and recommendations for the next provincial budget.
Under Section 143 of the Sindh Assembly Rules and Regulations, the pre-budget debate is mandated to take place January through March annually.
Leader of Opposition Ali Khurshidi noted in a letter to the chief minister the absence of the pre-budget session last year.
Beginning the pre-budget debate, which runs until Friday, member Muhammad Farooq Awan of the Pakistan Peoples Party complained of severe water scarcity in his constituency PS-95 resulting from leakages and deteriorated condition of the 32-inch water pipeline supplying water to the nearby areas including Kashmir Colony, Manzoor Colony and Defence Housing Authority.
14 opposition, treasury members present their idea during pre-budget debate; legislators bring up water scarcity.
He claimed that people were getting water mixed with sewage while the neglected pipeline had remained a problem for the past thirty years.
The PPP MPA insisted on top priority resolution of the local water problem by the provincial government.
In order for residents in the nearby area to also benefit from the facilities, he also insisted on the building of a trauma center, 50-bed hospital, dispensary, and primary school in his constituency.
Mr. Awan also noted significant traffic congestion at Korangi Crossing and recommended building a flyover to Indus Hospital to help to improve the traffic flow.
Still stressing that the water shortage was the main problem for locals, he also called for the repair and rehabilitation of roads, storm water drains and removal of encroachments in his region.
Hyderabad’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) member Sabir Qaimkhani descended sharply on the PPP and claimed that both Hyderabad and Latifabad suffered a severe water scarcity.
According to him, the people living in Latifabad had been suffering a severe water scarcity for the previous fifteen years. He said, “Husainabad Filter Plant was established but there is no water supply to it.”
Denying the chief minister’s performance claims, he said his constituency lacked a completely working hospital or school.
The province’s metropolitan centers were not included in uplifting programs in the last budget, he said.
According to the MQM-P MPA, for the past 17 years no new hospital, university, or institution of learning opened in Hyderabad.
Mr Qaimkhani demanded immediate announcement of the provincial finance commission.
He also insisted on having the Peoples Bus Service run in Hyderabad and Latifabad.
PPP’s Heer Soho said the party had rendered unparalleled services to the people of the province and planned to build two million houses for the flood victims. People were residing in more than 3,000 households, she claimed.
The MPA from Sajawal demanded to include the establishment of a university in her district in the next budget. She also complained of water shortage in her area.
MQM-P member Quratul Ain expressed her concerns over the security situation in Karachi and suggested that the provincial government must devise a strategy with police to curb street crimes.
Also spoke on the occasion were PPP’s Shazia Karim, Asif Musa, Hassan Ali shah, Nadir Akmal Leghari and Jam Shabbir, and MQM-P’s Jamal Ahmed, Nasir Qureshi, Moeed Anwar and Shariq Jamal.
Later, Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed adjourned the House to meet again on Tuesday (today).
