KARACHI   -  Sindh government has decided to take up the federal government’s decision on giving nod to the Census 2017 results before the provincial assembly to devise a consensus against the matter. 

The decision was made in a cabinet meeting headed by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday which also discussed other matters including procurement of 250 diesel hybrid electric buses for intra-district operation, devolution of Sindh Solid Management to the divisional level, withdrawal of the condition of producing Form VII to sell wheat to the food department and filing an appeal against Sindh High Court decision under which regularisation of law officers and various others of grade BS-16 and 17 have been declared illegal. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, chief secretary Mumtaz Shah and other concerned secretaries.

Census

The CM told the cabinet that he had attended the CCI meeting through video link on Monday in which Census-2017 was approved despite his dissenting vote. He said that he had told the PM that all the four provinces have serious reservations against the census result; therefore, it should be conducted anew. “The CCI since its inception has been taking consensus decisions, but this was the first decision which has been taken with a vote dissent,” he told the cabinet and said that in such a situation he has to take up the matter in the parliament. 

Provincial cabinet approved to take up the matter of the census in the parliament.

250 buses 

Minister Transport & Mass Transit Awais Qadir Shah briefing the cabinet said that his department has a plan to procure 250 Diesel Hybrid Electric Buses under Sindh Intra-District People Bus Service project. He told the cabinet that these buses would operate in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad. The Mass Transit department has hired a professional consultant and the project would cost Rs8 billion. The cabinet approved the proposal and gave go ahead to the Transport department to procure the buses.  The CM said that he would provide necessary funds to the department for the purpose and termed it a good news for the people of six districts. 

SSWMB 

Minister for Local Government Nasir Shah presented a draft of Sindh Solid Waste Management Act-2021 which envisaged creation of Solid Waste Management Board at each divisional headquarter of the province. Each board would be headed by a concerned commissioner of the division with the mayor of Metropolitan Corporation and metropolitan as members of the board. 

Wheat procurement 

Minister Food Hari Ram and his department Secretary Haleem Shaikh briefing the cabinet said that they have started procurement of wheat from April 1, 2021. The minister said that more than 60 percent of the crop has been harvested in the districts of the lower Sindh; however, a quantity of 6,333.850 MT of wheat has been procured so far. 

The cabinet approved the proposal of the food department and waived the condition of producing pass book or Form-IV for getting bardana and also allowed the food department to purchase additional 2,600 bales of pp bags.

Appeal in SC 

The CM told the cabinet meeting that the high court of Sindh has declared the appointment of around 1,400 employees of Grade BS-16 and BS-17 of law department and some others as illegal. He added that these employees were appointed without referring them to the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC). Shah said that these employees were appointed in 2008. The cabinet after thorough discussions and deliberations approved a proposal to file an appeal in the supreme court against the decision of the high court.

Zakat dept

Minister for Zakat & Usher Sohail Anwar Siyal told the cabinet that Justice (retd) Ghulam Sarwar Korie was appointed as chairman Sindh Zakat Council for a period of three years, Nov 2018 to 2021 has resigned. On his request the cabinet approved the resignation and appointed Justice (retd) Mohammad Iqbal Mahar as chairman for the remaining period.

Sub-Committee on finance matters

The CM told the cabinet meeting that the Sub-Committee of the Provincial Cabinet on Financial Matters approved the proposal of Agriculture Department for provision of funds of Rs500 million during current financial year (2020-21) for repair and maintenance of water courses damaged during recent heavy rains. He said that he has released the amount of Rs500 million.

The sub-committee discussed the subject matter in detail and approved the provision of additional funds amounting to Rs119 million during 2020-21 for COVID-19 tests at NIV, Dr Panjwani, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, ICCBS, University of Karachi. The amount has been released. 

The sub-committee approved the proposal for creation of 25 posts of bailiff (24 for Anti-Terrorism Courts and one for registrar Special Courts STA/ATA) in lieu of abolition of six posts of Stenographer and seven posts of Reader (BPS-12) in respect of cost centre.

Rules

The provincial cabinet approved draft rules officer laws presented by Minister Labour Saeed Ghani. They include Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Rules 2021, Sindh Payment of Wages Rules 2021, Sindh Companies Profits (workers) Participation Rules 2021, Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment Rules 2021, amendment in labour law to encourage female labour force participation, Workers Welfare Board, Sindh Employees Rules 2020.The provincial cabinet approved Sindh Mining Concession Rules under which mining licenses would not be given in the areas of animal sanctuaries. The provincial cabinet approved appointment of Dr Wasif Ali Memon as Member/Senior Member, Sindh Revenue Board (SRB).