Daily Times

KARACHI: The authorities concerned have finalised all security arrangements along with the operationalisation of CCTV cameras and other equipments to conduct Sindh Assembly Budget 2016-17 session today (Saturday).

As many as 500 entry passes are issued to media personnel of different news organisations for coverage of budget 2016-17 at Sindh Assembly building, while rest of visitors who wish to see budget proceedings restricted due to security reasons till further decision.

According to Sindh Assembly Secretary Ghulam Mohammed Umer Farooq, those media personnel who fulfilled security requirements have been issued passes to the for entrance in the Sindh Assembly premises.

He said people would be allowed after their completion of security formalities, but other visitors are on waiting list till further decision.

Sources said that the provincial assembly officials have started a biometric database registration of all the visitors and media personnel along with their vehicles adding that strict security measures would be ensured for budget session.

Sources said that the entry into the Sindh Assembly building would be allowed after the database registration and fingerprint scan along with photo verification of the concerned.

Earlier, Sindh Assembly had also released a handout for obtaining entry passes for print and electronic media after a recommendation letter from their concerned organisations with accredited cards of media persons along with their CNICs.

It has learnt that Sindh Assembly through Sindh Information Department had issued over 1,700 passes for news organisations during SA sessions, but now they would be limited after re-verification and biometric database registration process.

Daily Times has learnt that all those media houses who approached the officials of Sindh Assembly after fulfilling the criteria have been issued passes to cover the budget 2016-17 session at new Sindh Assembly building today.