Sindh PA adopts LG bill

On Monday, the Sindh Assembly approved the Sindh Local Government Amendment Bill 2026, despite strong opposition protests and disruptions. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar presented the special committee's report on the bill before it was taken up for discussion. The amendments introduce several important changes to the local government system, including the mayor assuming the powers of the administrator when a council's term expires and the deputy mayor or vice chairman becoming the council's convener.

The bill also mandates the identification and reporting of illegal constructions by union council chairmen and establishes a reconciliation commission that must be formed within 90 days.

After the bill's passage, the Sindh Assembly session was adjourned until 3pm on Tuesday. During question hour, Assistant Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Hassan Ali Shah, reported that there were 16 air quality monitoring systems in place, including 13 in Karachi. Karachi produced 470 million gallons of sewage daily, but only 55 MGD was being treated, leading to untreated sewage being discharged into the sea.

This sewage pollution affected marine life and caused marine pollution. The parliamentary secretary also mentioned that despite a ban on plastic bags, they were still widely used in markets, contributing to pollution and health problems.

Opposition parties, including MQM, PTI, and Jamaat-e-Islami, rejected the Sindh Local Government Amendment Bill 2026, calling it a "political dictatorship" and an "attack" on democracy. They accused the government of ignoring Supreme Court decisions and setting aside other business to pass the legislation during the session. Opposition leaders expressed their dissatisfaction and pledged to challenge the bill in legal and political forums.