The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday approved supplementary expenditures amounting to Rs156 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25, despite strong objections and the submission of 735 cut motions by opposition lawmakers. The session, chaired by Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah, was marked by heated exchanges as opposition members’ demands for individual debate on each motion were ultimately denied.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented 84 supplementary demands for grants. These were subsequently passed by a majority vote after the opposition’s numerous cut motions were clubbed together and rejected collectively by the house.
Breakdown of Significant Expenditures
In his address to the assembly, Chief Minister Shah provided a detailed breakdown of the significant expenditures included in the supplementary budget:
- Judicial (Charged) Expenses: Rs5 billion
- Sindh Assembly: Rs3 billion
- Governor’s House: Over Rs1 billion
- Debt Servicing: A substantial Rs59 billion
CM Shah emphasized that judicial expenses are constitutionally protected, placing them beyond the executive’s direct control. He also urged administrative departments to exercise greater fiscal restraint in their spending.
Opposition’s Criticism and Procedural Debate
Opposition Leader Ali Khursheedi strongly criticized the Speaker’s decision to consolidate the cut motions, arguing that opposition lawmakers had invested considerable effort in drafting each one individually. He contended that denying individual debate undermined the legislative process. However, Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah maintained his procedural authority and proceeded with a collective vote, leading to the collective rejection of all opposition motions.
The approval of this supplementary budget highlights the provincial government’s need to cover additional funds expended by various departments beyond their initial allocations for the outgoing fiscal year 2024-25, even as it faces scrutiny over its spending priorities.
