KARACHI - Sindh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed three private bills for setting up of universities in Karachi, Hyderabad and Benazirabad.
Five resolutions were tabled from both the treasury and opposition lawmakers.
In a bonhomie and comradely atmosphere, MQM legislators Faisal Ali Sabzwari, Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Sardar Ahmed, Rauf Siddiqui, Dr Saghir Ahmed, Moin Amir Pirzada, Rashid Khilji, Rana Ansar and Muhammad Hussain tabled a private bill for the establishment of Altaf Hussain University in Karachi. Speaking on the bill, the MQM lawmakers paid tributes to MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Chief Qaim Ali Shah and MQM Senator Farogh Nasim for their efforts in establishment of university in the metropolis. They said the population of Karachi had increased from 3.5 million in 1951 to about 16 million in 2014 and there were few universities which were unable to cater to the requirements of the students, it is expedient to establish another university at Karachi that will have additional modern faculties over and above the traditional facilities.
They paid rich tributes to Bahria Town and eminent philanthropist Malik Riaz, who committed to establish Altaf Hussain University in Karachi and fully fund its construction, future management, maintenance and running. After tributes, the chair put the bill in the House which adopted it unanimously.
MQM legislators said the Sindh University that had shifted from Karachi to Hyderabad in 1949, functioned smoothly till 1963 when it was shifted to Jamshoro from district Dadu. “Hyderabad being the largest city of Sindh, having population of more than 3.5 million is without a university. It is expected that university be established at Hyderabad.”
Sindh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro, speaking on the bill, said it was an honour for this House which had passed resolution for creation of Pakistan and since then it was framing legislation for the benefit of the people of the province. He said since Begum Akhtar Rukhsana Memorial Welfare Trust would fully fund the universities, so PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has directed for expediting to the legislations. He said it was mandatory for the Trust to establish two other campuses of the university in other cities of the province.
PML-F lawmaker Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, supporting the bill, hoped that people of rural areas, who have less resources, would be accommodated in the university and merit would be followed in the admissions.  Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza put the bill into the House which approved it unanimously.
PPP legislator Ghulam Qadir Chandio tabled a bill for establishment of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University at Benazirabad. He recalled the achievement of PPP in the field of education and said it was the democratic government of the PPP which established medical and engineering universities in Benazirabad (earlier Nawabshah). He said education was the basic necessity for the development and prosperity of a society. Keeping in view the increase in population, it was necessary to establish more educational institutions and universities in public as well as private sector in the province. The House carried the bill unanimously when the chair put it in the House after speeches.
PPP lawmaker Dr Sohrab Sarki moved an out-of-turn resolution, which says, “This House resolves and recommends that the government of Sindh approach the federal government to ensure that Passco procure paddy at the rate of at least Rs1,200 per 40-kg for irri-6. The dwindling prices of paddy in the market have pushed the growers into surmountable difficulties.”
Senior Education Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the province had produced bumper paddy crop but the growers’ were not getting the just price of their crop. He accused the cartel of exploiting the growers. He demanded the Sindh government to approach federal government to direct Pasco to purchase paddy. The House passed a resolution which was moved by MQM member Kamran Akhtar to initiate crackdown against fake ‘Aamils’, playing with the lives of innocent people of the province. It carried yet another resolution of MQM member Khawaja Izharul Hassan for observing ‘Polio Awareness Day’. The House which was called in order at 11:30 noon was adjourned till Wednesday (today) morning after completion of the agenda.