Sindh cabinet raises concerns on increasing load shedding 

KARACHI: The provincial cabinet in a meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday expressed serious reservations against load shedding, and the federal government’s reluctance to name new Islamabad International Airport after Benazir Bhutto.

The cabinet also several important decisions and approved new External Debt Management Manual (EDMM), Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority Budget, Sindh University and Institutes Laws (Amendment Bill), and an amendment in the West Pakistan Highways Ordinance, 1959 which would now be call West Pakistan Highways (Sindh Amendment) Act 2018.

The cabinet also voiced concern on the reluctance to name the new international airport in Islamabad, and urged the federal government to the name the airport after Benazir Bhutto.

The cabinet also expressed concern that the federal government has started prolonged load shedding across Sindh, and urged to show mercy in the sweltering weather

External Debt Management Manual approved

CM Sindh, who holds the portfolio of Finance department, said that the objective of External Debt Management Manual was to describe the policies and procedures governing external debt management by Sindh government.

He added that it should be used for day-to-day management of external debt activities where appropriate, and diagrams and flowcharts are used to facilitate users understanding of the process and workflow.

He went on saying the document is prepared to meet all basic requirements and to attain the desired internal controls over external debt management policies at the provincial level.

The manual explains activities relating to external debt management, the need for controls, nature and content of the work processes, and importance of aspects such as debt recording, servicing and reporting.

Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority budget approved

The cabinet also approved budget worth Rs555.166 million for 2017-18 for the Sindh Katchi Abadi Authority.

The budget has been estimated at Rs555.166 million which includes Rs200 million for government grant, Rs355.166 million from SKAA’s own resources. In the budget 22 posts of Grade BPS-1 to Grade BPS-20 have been created and Rs 45 million have been allocated low housing scheme.

To a question about expenditures, the chief minister was told that Rs325.166 million would be spent on salaries, Rs109 million would be non-development expenditures and Rs121 million would be development expenditures.

There are 1409 katchi abadis, or slum dwellings of them 1251 have been regularised. Senior Minister Nisar Khuhro pointed out that an old katchi abadi in Larkana was inaugurated by Bhutto has not been regularised so far.  The chief minister directed Minister Murtaza Baloch to personally visit the scheme and regularise it at the earliest.

Reservations on Governor’s remarks on vice-chancellor’s appioiment bill

The cabinet also took up the Sindh Universities and Institutes Law (Amendment) Bill 2018 passed by Sindh Assembly and referred back by Sindh Governor for reconsideration. It expressed reservations on the objections raised by the governor for referring it back to Sindh assembly.

It was pointed out that the conduct of the Governor cannot be discussed in the assembly, while the chief minister is elected representative and answerable to the assembly,and was therefore given powers of appointing a vice-chancellor through a search committee, and a proper procedure has been worked out in the draft law to remove a vice-chancellor in case of serious allegations proved through a inquiry committee.

The cabinet approved the draft and referred back to the Sindh assembly for reconsideration and also included some other recommendations after vetting from the law department.

New Prosecutor-General appointed

The cabinet was told that the Prosecutor-General Shahadat Awan has resigned due to personal reasons and the post cannot remain vacant for long.

The cabinet approved the appointment of Dr Syed Fiaz ul Hassan Shah as new prosecutor general and directed the chief secretary to issue notification.