The provincial government has prepared a draft of the Sindh Coronavirus Emergency Relief Ordinance which stipulates that any violation will result in on the spot punishment carrying a fine up to Rs1 million.

The law department drafted the document under Article 128 of the Constitution, which would be sent to the governor for approval.

The proposed ordinance, to be applicable from April 1, makes the utility companies (power and gas) bound to provide relief to residential, commercial and industrial consumers. Furthermore, it will apply to all the utilities services working in Sindh.

In this connection, the consumers using 155 units of gas would be exempted from billing with a 25 percent concession for those up to 200 units and 50 percent for up to 300 units. However, the consumers with a consumption of more than 300 units will have to pay the full amount.

Those living in 800 square yards flats are exempted from water bill, while the 1,000 yards and 1,200 yards would get 25 percent and 50 percent concession respectively.

In education sector, no private school will charge more than 80 percent of the fee and won’t able to charge the 20 percent fee concession under any other account.

As far as the tenants are concerned, the rent – to be paid later – would be suspended for a certain period if the amount is Rs50,000 or less.

In case the rent is between Rs50,000 and Rs100,000, 50 percent amount would be paid for a certain period while the remaining to be payable later.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, stressing the need for ensuring social distancing, on Thursday asked the residents of slums to get ration and other support items but do not carry coronavirus with them to their homes.

In a video message, Murad said the seven members of a family were tested positive in District Central of Karachi, whose head had transmitted the virus to others at the home.

A six-year-old daughter and one-year-old son are among those infected by the virus.

The chief minister urged the people to follow social distancing at the points where ratio or assistance is distributed, as he expressed his worries over the rise of coronavirus cases in slums.

He said 642 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours while 92 new cases had been reported. Another person died because of the coronavirus after the death toll in the province reached 21, he added.

Describing the reports of people committing suicides as baseless, he said the government was extending full support to the citizens who were facing difficulties.