KARACHI: Governor Sindh Imran Ismail has approved the Corona Emergency Relief Ordinance, 2020 after approval by the Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
The ordinance is prepared to provide relief to the people in the means of house rents, school fees, job security and salary amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Under the ordinance, a landlord shall defer or suspend the recovery of rent payments under Rs50, 000 and slash by 50 per cent if a rent amount is Rs100, 000. It shall not apply in case where the owner is a widow, differently-abled person and senior citizen,” the ordinance says. “All the educational institution are advised to charge not more than 80 per cent of the total monthly fees and give 20 per cent concession to the parents.”
It also stated that during this COVID-19 lockdown, no company will terminate its employee or worker and employers will be bound to pay salary to their employers.
The ordinance was initially rejected by the Sindh governor due to the clause added by CM Sindh demanding utility bills including electricity and gas charges be waived off. The governor said that the clause can’t be accepted as the electricity to the province is directed from national grid which falls under the Centre’s jurisdiction.
He also told the Sindh government that he shall sign and approve the ordinance only if the said clause is removed from it. After consultation with the cabinet, Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah decided to remove the clause from the ordinance and re-sent it to the governor for approval.
