The draft will be submitted to the Sindh cabinet on December 1 before being tabled in the Assembly.
Session of the Sindh Assembly. PHOTO: NNI
The ruling PPP is preparing to introduce key amendments to the Sindh Local Government Act, 2013, with technical teams from the Sindh Local Government Department and the Law Department currently finalizing a draft of the proposed changes, sources said. The Express PK Press Club.
Once reviewed, the draft will be submitted to the provincial cabinet for approval before being tabled in the Sindh Assembly. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has called a special cabinet meeting on December 1 to consider the issue. Following his advice, the provincial governor has already convened a session of the Sindh Assembly, which is expected to begin on Wednesday.
During the session, which is expected to last several days, the government plans to table several bills before the House, including a set of amendments to the Local Government Act.
The much-controversial bill, aimed at separating the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) from the University of Karachi, is also expected to be introduced in the same session.
According to PPP insiders, one of the major amendments under consideration would seek to abolish the practice of appointing administrators once the term of local bodies expires. Instead, current local council leaders, including mayors and chairmen, would continue in office until new local elections are held.
When contacted, provincial government spokesperson MP Sadia Javed said the agenda for the next cabinet meeting was not yet finalized. However, she reiterated, the PPP has always welcomed proposals to strengthen and empower the local government system, and it is likely that the reforms will improve the law.
Regarding the upcoming Assembly session, she added that important legislative work was expected, including the introduction of a bill to establish a constitutional court in Sindh in light of recent constitutional amendments.
