Sindh Assembly paves way for new health university

[Zarvan]

Indus Hospital gets charter to establish Indus University. PHOTO: TEEMARDAAR

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly passed on Monday a bill to establish a new medical university in the province.

The charter to establish Indus University of Health Sciences has been given to Indus Hospital, a charitable institution working in Karachi. As the assembly passed the bill, parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro said the university is being made to enhance educational facilities in Sindh and encourage the participation of the private-sector in education. “We are giving the charter to Indus Hospital that is rendering state-of-the-art services to patients free of charge,” said Dr Mandhro.

The university will be owned, managed and administered by Indus Hospital and shall have perpetual succession, stated the bill, which listed all the provisions that degree-awarding institutions in the province have to follow. For example, the university will have a chancellor who will be appointed for a period of three years.

Indus University will be the 10th degree-awarding medical institution in Sindh. The others are Aga Khan University, Baqai Medical University, Dow University of Health Sciences, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Hamdard University, Ziauddin University, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences in Jamshoro, Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences in Nawabshah and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University in Larkana.

Workers’ welfare board

The lawmakers also passed a bill to establish the board to regulate matters for the welfare of workers in the province, following the federal government’s delays in devolving the workers’ welfare board. “In view of the 18th Amendment, we are entitled to make this law because the subject ‘labour’ has been devolved to the provinces,” said Dr Mandhro as the assembly passed the ‘Sindh Workers’ Welfare Fund Bill, 2014′.

Earlier, the provincial government had written a number of times to the federal government to devolve board. “The federal government’s decision to retain the powers of board is a sheer violation of the Constitution,” said Dr Mandhro. “The funds should be released to us by devolving the board,” he added.

The law said that a board will be established comprising a chairperson, three members of the provincial assembly nominated by the speaker, the labour secretary, three members each from among the employers and workers, a representative each from the health, education, industries, works and services departments, and the revenue board. The labour minister will be the chairperson of the board.

Apart from this, a workers’ welfare funds will be constituted. The initial contribution will be made by the government and a share of funds or assets will be received from the workers.

“Any industrial establishment located in the province, with a total yearly income of no less Rs500,000 will have to pay the funds equal to two per cent of its total income,” stated the law.

If any industrial unit failed to pay this amount, it will be liable to pay an additional amount equal to 15 per cent per annum.

Adjournment motion

The assembly also turned down an adjournment motion moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Liaquat Jatoi regarding government land in Jamshoro district that is being forcefully occupied by influential people allegedly with the help of government officials. On the request of the parliamentary minister, the speaker termed the adjournment ‘out of order’. “This is an old issue which cannot be discussed in the House,” he said.

Meanwhile, journalists boycotted the assembly proceedings following the torture of senior journalist Rasheed Memon, a reporter of Sindhi daily Kawish, allegedly by policemen. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon assured the protesting reporters that action will be taken against the cops.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2015.
Sindh Assembly paves way for new health university - The Express Tribune