Karachi, October 05, 2021 (PPI-OT): The provincial cabinet of Sindh in its meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday at CM House has decided to release wheat from October 15 at a rate of Rs1,950 per 40 kg so that atta prices could be stabilized. The meeting was attended by all the provincial ministers, advisors to CM and special assistants, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah and Chairman P and D Hassan Naqvi and other concerned ministers.
Briefing the cabinet, Minister Food Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that over 1.2 MMT of wheat stocks were available in the godowns of the provincial food department. He added that as per the food department released wheat on October 15 every year. He said that currently the Punjab government has started releasing wheat at a rate of Rs1,950 per 40 kg. At this the chief minister said that with the fixation of uniform rate in the country the prices of atta would be stabilized. Therefore, the cabinet approved the proposal of releasing wheat from October 16 at a rate of Rs1950 per 40 kg.
Rehabilitation of nullahs affectees: Minister Local Government department Nasir briefing the cabinet on rehabilitation of Gujjar, Orangi and Mehmoodabad Nullah said that Karachi witnessed unprecedented rainfall during monsoon 2020 which caused massive urban flooding. He added that the significant cause of urban flooding was choking of storm water drains due to the vast extent of human settlements on major nullahs. Nasir Shah said that the Supreme Court took cognizance of the condition of storm water drains and directed the NDMA to take over the cleaning of nullahs and remove the encroachments [in and around these nullahs] with the support of the Sindh government.
The court also directed that the Sindh government would provide all necessary assistance and support to the NDMA for rehabilitation of the people dislocated on account of removal of the encroachments. Subsequently, a Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee (PCIC) headed by Chief Minister Sindh was constituted on 15th September 2020. Since the formation, the Coordination Committee and Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee have held five and eight meetings respectively. For clearance of major Nullahs- Mehmoodabad, Gujjar and Orangi, the work of hydraulic and hydrological survey was assigned to NED University.
The survey gave Identification number to each encroached house that is constructed in the right of way of the Nullahs. In the 4th meeting held on December 28, 2020 the PCIC finalized its recommendations which, inter alia, included overview for Karachi Transformation Projects (KPT), detailed financial outlay, way forward for restoration of storm water drains and schedule of releases of funds were decided which were also approved/ratified by the Coordination Committee on 02nd January, 2021. Nasir Shah said that it was also decided that the resettlement support would be applicable to the occupants only.
While in case of partial demolition of structures (up to 30 percent) which did not warrant dislocation of occupant resettlement would not be paid, Local govt minister said and added in the same meeting the resettlement support model was approved which has the two components as follows: Rental support of Rs.15,000 per month, per household for two years, on six monthly basis to be disbursed through biometric verification by the office of the Administrator KMC. Locally Displaced Persons (LDPs) would be given the first right of refusal to incentivize housing projects undertaken by Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority (NAPHDA) in Phase-I, which includes 100,000 units with the federal government. Subsidy of Rs.300,000 for each unit was decided.
NAPHDA will earmark 30,000 units for Karachi LDPs in phase-I of their project. The land of the subject housing would be provided by the Sindh government free of cost. In the fifth meeting of the PCIC held on May 20, 2021 the decisions were made that the financial assistance to LDPs Rs.15,000 per month for two years in biannual installment of Rs.90,000 each to continue as per procedure in-vogue. The special compensation would be given to legitimate leased cases as per the recommendations of the special committee. The first Right of refusal would be granted to all LDPs on initiation of NAPHDA scheme in Karachi, subject to fulfilment of all other legal formalities and meeting the eligibility criteria for the same scheme.
In the meanwhile, more than 344 houses on Gujar Nullah and 60 on Orangi Nullah, including six factories in SITE area were given Stay Order by Anti-Encroachment Tribunal and High Court of Sindh. The Supreme Court vacated all interim stay / injunction and status quo orders on 14th June, 2021 and directed the Sindh government, NDMA and Administrator KMC to ensure that all lands of both the Nullahs and right of way were cleared and the occupants of the land were suitably compensated and rehabilitated. For the purpose, the Sindh government filed three separate Petitions in the Supreme Court in which it was prayed to release Rs.10 billion from the monies deposited by Bahria Town with the Supreme Court to the Sindh government so that the required development works may be undertaken.
The cabinet approved the proposal/petitions filed in the supreme court. Actuarial valuation of employees: The Finance Department submitted an outcome of Actuarial Valuation on Employee Benefit Schemes carried through a leading consultant under the Technical Assistance Component of the World Bank. In the outcome Pension Scheme Valuation Report; Reimbursement of Medical Charges and Medical Allowance to Civil Pensioners Report; Encashment of Leave Preparatory to Retirement Report; General Provident Fund Report; Defined Contribution Pension Scheme Policy Options Report; Report on Rationalization of Pension Policies and Procedures and Life Expectancy Report were presented.
According to the outcome over the period of 2015-16 to 2018-19, the current revenue expenditures (CRE) grew at an average annual rate of 18.2 percent, the employees related expenses 9ERE) grew at average annual rate of 15.3 percent but the pension bill grew at an average annual rate of 30.8 percent. The cabinet referred the matter to the committee comprising Minister Labour Saeed Ghani, Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh and Minister Social Welfare Sajid Jokhio to examine the report and the suggested measures and report back to the cabinet. Amendment in Motor Vehicle Rules: The Sindh cabinet approved an amendment in the Motor Vehicle Rule No. 156 under which motorcyclists would have to install side mirrors on his motorcycle to be aware of side traffic on both sides rearwards. The decision was taken for the safety of the motorcyclists.
Meanwhile, the cabinet on the request of Industries Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo approved amendments in the Partnership Act 1932 for promoting Ease of doing business to facilitate the business community. The amendments were made in different sections of the act. Another amendment was suggested by Transport department in Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969 regarding regularization of Commercial Trolley and Fees structure for terminals with requisite areas of the land but the cabinet differed the matters and directed the department to provide copies of the amendments to the cabinet members so that they could study the proposal before the next meeting.
Prisons Staff Training Institute: The home department told the cabinet that the provincial government with the financial assistance of the American State department has established Sindh Prisons Staff Training Institute, Hyderabad for Rs149.931 million. The building has been completed and handed over to the Prison department to functionalize the institute. It was pointed out that some equipment, office furniture and fixer, and vehicles for the head of the institute were to be purchased for Rs48.5 million. The cabinet referred the matter to the finance committee for approval.
Falconry Ground: The Sindh cabinet allotted a non-cultivated belt of Tehsil Jati, District Sujawal for Falconry season 2021-22 to an applicant of Qatar.
Remissions: The cabinet granted education remission to nine lifer convicted namely Sajid Iqbal, Zafar Iqbal, Syed Bilal, Mohammad Shahid, Abdul Rasheed, Qurban Ali, Pir Bux and Ali Akbar for different periods.
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