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Sindh governor rejects govt’s Corona emergency relief ordinance

Sindh governor rejects govt’s Corona emergency relief ordinance
May 7, 2020
KARACHI (92 News) – Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Thursday rejected the “Sindh Covid-19 Emergency Relief Ordinance”. It is pertinent to mention here that this ordinance was approved by the provincial cabinet last week The Sindh governor has raised some objections on the ordinance, saying that the provincial government has no authority to provide concession in electricity and gas. It is purely a federal subject. The salient features of the ordinance said it would provide prevention of eviction in the residential and commercial sectors, for the time being, giving equal relief to domestic residential and commercial tenants, employees and daily-wages workers. Earlier, Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Relief Ordinance had been finalised to provide relief for coroanvirus lockdown victims. The draft of the ordinance prepared by Sindh Law ministry will be sent to Governor Imran Ismail for the approval. The ordinance has been drafted according to the Article 128 of Constitution of Pakistan. All private schools have been bound to give 20 per cent concession in fee amid coronaivurs. Schools have been bound not to charge more than 80 per cent of the fees from the parents. The schools cannot charge 20 per cent fees in any other form neither can charge in instalments, the draft reads. All companies, who provide water, electricity and gas, will be obliged to provide relief to residential commercial and industrial consumers. Electricity bill from 1 to 260 units will be fully waived, while 25 per cent discount on electricity bill from 261 to 350 units. However, 50 per cent of the electricity from 351 to 400 units will be billed. All water connections up to 80 yards will be exempted. 25 per cent bills will be waived for 81 to 160 yards of water connections. Fifty per cent of bills will be payable at water connections from 161 yards to 240 yards. Gas bills up to 155 units will be waived off, while up to 200 units will be 25 % off on gas bills. There will be a 50% discount on gas bills of 300 units. The gas bill must be paid for more than 300 units. The ordinance also includes the announcement of a huge package for tenants. The rent will not be paid less than Rs50,000 but 50 per cent rent will be pain in case of Rs1,00,000. More than 1,00,000 rent will be paid completely. The ordinance would be enforced from April 1 in the province after the approval. It is pertinent to mention here that the punishment for the violators have also been fixed in the ordinance.