Cabinet for strict action to control water theft

KARACHI - The Sindh Cabinet has decided to ruthlessly move against persons involved in stealing irrigation water from various channels in the province and has asked the irrigation minister to undertake a whirlwind tour and catch hold of persons irrespective of their political affiliation and influence if found guilty.
Senior Minister in the Sindh cabinet Pir Mazharul Haq said this on Thursday while addressing a joint a press conference along with provincial Irrigation Minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo shortly after a cabinet meeting held under the chair of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah.
The ministers told newsmen that the Chief Minister has directed all DPOs to accompany the irrigation minister on his tour of the interior and take stern action against those found guilty of stealing canal water.
The cabinet took serious notice of the negligence of the Sindh Irrigation Development Authority (SIDA) and warned to improve its performance within five days otherwise it might be disbanded, the ministers disclosed at the briefing.
It was decided at the meeting that action should be taken against provincial law officers who had allegedly held in maintaining a status quo in Own Pay Scale System (OPS) case, which was heard by Sindh High Court. It was also decided that deserving officers would get promotion and other perks. In the meeting, the cabinet was informed that only two chief engineers were working in the irrigation department despite the need of at least 12 official in same capacity for efficient functioning of the department.
The cabinet gave approval for auctioning one Cessna aircraft and two helicopters, which are parked and are in poor condition.
A committee comprising of Home Minister and Revenue Minister, Secretary to Chief Minister, Finance Secretary and Revenue Secretary and a nominee of Civil Aviation Authority has been set up to monitor the auctioning of three junk aircrafts  
On the complaint of growing shortage of fertilizers in the province, the cabinet decided that Engro and Fauji Fertilizers should be contacted for uninterrupted supply of the commodity.
Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza briefed the cabinet on operation carried out in Lyari to flush out criminals and restore normalcy in the area. The cabinet expressed its satisfaction over the outcome of the operation and decided to announce special package for the development of the affected areas. The said package would be in addition to the measures that the federal government has announced for the overall development of Lyari.
The provincial government has decided to immediately launch a free-of-the-cost vaccination campaign to counter the growing complaints received from various parts of the province especially of neglected areas on the rise of deadly Hepatitis B.