KARACHI: 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&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.
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.
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.
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 & 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.
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.
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.
