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Chairpersons

Sindh Assembly Approves Controversial Bill on Education Board Appointments

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Sindh Assembly has approved a contentious bill that allows the provincial government to appoint senior civil servants as chairmen of educational boards in the province, despite opposition from a lone member of the Jamaat-i-Islami.

The Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill was tabled in the assembly on January 27, 2025, and was passed with a majority vote after being endorsed by the standing committee. The new law enables the provincial government to appoint the chairman of an educational board through a direct recruitment process or by transferring a senior civil servant from the BPS-19/20 cadre. The authority to appoint members to the education boards and the steering committee will also rest with the chief minister. Changes have also been made to the procedure for appointing heads, examination directors, and secretaries of the education boards across the province.

Meanwhile, the assembly session was marked by a heated debate over the acute water shortage in Karachi, with opposition members accusing the provincial government of failing to ensure smooth supply. A MQM-P member from Malir, Shariq Jamal, alleged that water was being diverted from supply lines at the behest of a PPP member of the provincial assembly. The saga continued when SIC-PTI lawmakers accused the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation officials of illegally diverting water from residential areas to commercial ones.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Sindh Assembly approved the Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill, which allows the provincial government to appoint senior civil servants as chairmen of educational boards.
  • The new law enables the provincial government to appoint the chairman of an educational board through a direct recruitment process or by transferring a senior civil servant from the BPS-19/20 cadre.
  • Changes have been made to the procedure for appointing heads, examination directors, and secretaries of the education boards across the province.
  • The provincial government has been criticized for its handling of the acute water shortage in Karachi, with opposition members accusing officials of diverting water for personal gain.
  • The assembly has also been informed of plans to establish EV recharging stations across the province, with a senior minister announcing that such stations will be built every 50 kilometers.

Statistics:

  • The Sindh Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (Amendment) Bill was tabled in the assembly on January 27, 2025.
  • 25% decrease in the price of e-vehicles will be seen once the new EV plant is set up in Karachi.
  • 10 call attention notices were tabled by opposition members during the assembly session, with most relating to the acute water shortage in Karachi.
  • 100 km distance between EV recharging stations will be maintained in the first phase of the project.
  • The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation is responsible for managing the water supply in Karachi.

Sources:

  • [Sindh Assembly]
  • [The Express Tribune]
  • [Dawn]
  • [Business Recorder]

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