The PTI on Tuesday opposed the proposed merger of two banks and termed it a 'cover-up' to protect a 'huge' financial irregularity during the Sindh Assembly sitting on Tuesday. But the PTI's legislator Khurrum Sher Zaman Khan failed to get his adjournment motion passed in the house after the treasury turned down his move. Nisar Khuhro, Sindh Senior Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said the motion is based on an 'assumption'.
He warned that his party will move the court to challenge the proposed merger, saying that "we will not remain silent". PPP's Nisar Khuhro said the banks merger being deliberated and no such decision has yet been taken by the government. The PTI is making 'noise' on an assumption. However giving details on the post-merger scenario, he said the Sindh Bank will grow its branches to 492. He also defended the other bank for being 'functional'. He said the Sindh Bank runs on a commercial basis and its merger will be carried out with the approval of its share holders. "If the Sindh Bank branches increases then why one should have reservations," he said, adding that "if Punjab expands its network into Sindh then why can't the same in Punjab".
The house also adopted five resolutions during the private members unanimously. The first was moved by PML-N's Surath Thebo for seeking 120 days earned leave with all allowances and perks for working women in government and private departments during pregnancy. MMQ's Eng Sabir Qaimkhani demanded of the government to encourage founding of industrial zones in the city. He said the industrial zones that are being vacated by manufacturing units should not be allowed to be turned into residential colonies. He asked the government to take steps to help the ailing units revive. He also cited the US example of the government's bailout move that helped its market stand firm during the economic recession caused by the Subprime crisis.
Debating the resolution, PTI's Khurrum Sher Zaman Khan said the government should place a ban on a land allocated for industries for any other commercial purposes. PML-F's Parliamentary Leader, Nand Kumar, said that the government should support industrialization to help overcome soaring unemployment in the province. Nisar Khuhro said that there is a dire need for revival of ailing manufacturing units and opposed the utilization of industrial land for other commercial purposes.
MQM's lady lawmaker, Rana Ansar, raised the issue of absence of gates on rail tracks passing through residential areas causing fatal accidents. She asked the government to place portals for public safety. Khuhro said that there should be automatic gates. However, MQM's Syed Sardar Ahmed said the country is not adequately equipped to deal with automation of gates and therefore the government should at least install the manual portals first to protect human lives.
The fourth resolution was placed in the house by MQM's Saleem Bindhani. It was against the unannounced electric power and gas load shedding in Sukkur, demanding an end to the utilities supply closures in the city. Other legislators also supported the resolution and demanded that the electricity and gas load shedding across the province should be stopped. The last resolution came from MQM's Dilawar Qureshi who underscored the need for setting up of trade zones around all the cities in Sindh.
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