Tessori announced giving assent to the bill in a post on X. The Sindh Local Government (Third Amendment) Bill, 2023 has been approved. The inspectors appointed under the sub-sections of Section 136 will have the power to impose a fine up to Rs50,000, he wrote.

“The concerned court will have the authority to impose a fine up to Rs500,000 and sentence for up to three years, or both punishments,” he added.

On August 8, the Sindh Assembly, which stands dissolved now, passed the bill to empower the inspectors of local councils.

The law also enables the relevant authorities to file a case in a court of law against repeat offenders and seek a penalty not exceeding Rs500,000 and/or imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years.

The offences under the SLGA include tampering with any road, drain, pavement, main pipeline, meter or any apparatus or appliance for water supply; evasion of payment of tax or impost lawfully levied by a local government; establishing any parking stand on any property or on any open space and public park or land vested in or managed, maintained by a local government on or under a street, road, graveyard or a drain without sanction of the relevant local government and begging importunately for alms.