Sindh High Court (SHC) Tuesday sought explanation from provincial secretaries of finance and local government over non-payment of funds to city government for purchase of medicines for its hospitals. A division bench of SHC also summoned both secretaries in the next hearing of the case after the court was moved against non-payment of funds to city government for purchase of medicines.

City government's counsel told the court that provincial government approved the funds for 13 hospitals, run by city government, however provincial government withheld the fund despite the fact that these hospitals purchased the medicines. Counsel said that pharmaceutical companies are filing the cases against city government for non-payment of amount to them. The outstanding amount stands at Rs 170 million, however Sindh Government is not willing to release the funds, counsel stated.

Assistant Advocate General told the court that his department is waiting for the reply from provincial finance secretary, which triggered the remark from the bench that provincial secretary was ordered in the last hearing to submit the reply. Meanwhile, the Sindh government furnished a reply in SHC against the petition challenging Sindh Universities (Amendment) Act, by terming it an "ill will" act on part of petitioner to take the political mileage.

Provincial government said that Sindh Universities Bill was represented in the assembly in accordance with the law as Chief Minister is chief executive of the province and all provincial departments fall under his authority. It said that universities have been empowered to appoint controller examinations and register under the new act and said that clause has been inserted to remove vice chancellor on serious charges of corruption and misconduct. Court ordered the petitioner to furnish rejoinder against the reply of provincial government by November 05, 2019.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019