Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad on Tuesday summoned the Sindh Assembly’s pre-budget session on June 3, around a week before presentation of new financial year’s budget.Secretary of the Sindh Assembly, Hadi Bux Buriro, confirmed that the pre-budget session had been summoned, saying that the Assembly staff were busy in making arrangements for the session. Another session would be convened separately, most likely on June 9, for the presentation of the new fiscal year’s budget. The pre-budget session is likely to continue for two to three days. Buriro said that agenda for the session would be finalised on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, sources in the Law Department said the government wants to table at least four bills that are necessary to pass before the presentation of the annual budget. The government requires legislation on account of devolved subjects to the provinces by the Centre under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Similarly, the legislation is also required on account of GST on Services and other taxes the province wants to collect.
Sources said that the government would also table the Sindh Civil Servants (Regularization of Absorption) Act-2011 during the pre-budget session. The house had already allowed the matter through an ordinance it had carried during its last sitting and Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad had promulgated the ordinance. Under the Ordinance, the government had provided legal cover to officers belonging to the Federal government and other departments to work for the provincial government.
PML-F’s Marvi Rashdi had opposed the Ordinance when it was laid before the house, and had wanted to move a motion for disowning the Ordinance. Her move was struck down by PPP legislators.
Sources said that the ruling PPP has also planned to bring two resolutions during the session, one to condole the death of Hakim Ali Zardari, father of President Asif Ali Zardari, and the other to congratulate Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on his nomination as chief of the Zardari clan.
