Sindh Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, all provincial ministers, advises and special assistants attended the meeting.
Sindh's Revenue and Forest departments have been directed to issue cancellation orders vis-à-vis illegal allotments of 70,000 acres of land.
"Around 13,000 acres of land have been retrieved from the illegal occupants. Action is being taken for retrieval of the remaining land," Sind Foreign Minister said when CM asked him on the updates.
The Chief Minister directed the minister to begin operation against illegal occupants of the forest land for which he would provide him police and Rangers force.
Coalfield-affected People: Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh told the cabinet that 757 families inhabiting in one kilometre radius of Gorano Dam and Dukkur Chho pond should be considered affected people apart from those 471 who have been displaced due to development/excavation of Thar Coalfield Block-II.
Murad Shah said these affected people have every right to be compensated. The cabinet approved Rs 900 million as donation for Thar Foundation which would be giving Rs 100,000 annually to each and every affected family for the next 30 years. Thar Foundation will invest the amount and begin paying compensation to the affected people of Gorano and Dukkur Chho.
The cabinet also approved a compensation of Rs 100,000 to the each of 471 affected families of Thar Block-II but Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company would pay it because they were lease holders. These 471 families are also being provided one house in two different villages, Senhri Dars and Tharyo Halepoto.
Installation of Metres: Shaikh also presented an item in the cabinet for extension in completion period for Automatic Metres Reading (AMR) system by Hesco and Sepco. The cabinet was told that the Sindh government under an agreement paid Rs 27.398 billion to Discos (Hesco Rs 10.228 billion and Sepco Rs 17.170 billion) to clear all outstanding electricity dues for the period from July 2010-2016. In addition, it was also agreed that Rs 555.82 million to be paid to Hesco and Rs 513.73 million to Sepco till installation of AMR meters in head of monthly agreed amount.
The meeting was also told that Rs 26.738 billion had been paid to Discos, Rs 12.843 billion to Hesco and 13.895 billion to Sepco for the period from August 2016 to August 2018.
Shaikh also told the meeting that it was also agreed that Discos would install AMR system and the provincial government would bear 50 percent of the total cost. Sindh government has already paid Rs 170.382 million to Hesco and Rs 211.002 million to Sepco but installation of AMR meters have not been made so far. Therefore, monthly electricity bills of both the Discos could be stopped.
On the intervention of the chief minister, the cabinet approved extension allowing the Discos to install metres by May 2019 and also released monthly payments of Rs 513.73 million to Hesco and Rs 555.82 million to Sepco till transferring of billing to AMR system.
Sugarcane Price: Agriculture Minister Ismail Rahu told the cabinet that the growers were demanding to increase purchase price of sugarcane as it was stagnant from the last three years at Rs 182 per 40 kg. He said Punjab government has already fixed sugarcane price at Rs 180, therefore, he recommended that the price should not be lower than Rs 182 per maund.
He also said that the PSMA representatives were of the view that the price of sugar has come down to Rs 48 per kg in the market. After thorough discussion, the cabinet approved fixation of minimum sugarcane price at Rs 182 per 40 kg.
The cabinet also approved to authorize Agriculture Minister to appoint Market Committees on his own and inform the cabinet.
Qingqi (Chingchi) Fare: The Transport department apprised the cabinet that there was no minimum or maximum fare of Chingchi/Motorcycle rickshaw fares. Therefore, the proposed two fare slabs: from 0 to 6 kilometres Rs 10 and above Rs 15 per passenger. The cabinet approved the fare. The chief minister directed transport department to ensure proper safety precautions in the said rickshaws and also register them. "Why their registration has been delayed," he questioned. Excise Minister Mukesh Chawla told the chief minister that their registration process was being started.
Allotment Policy of govt residence: Secretary General Administration Zulfiqar Shah briefed the cabinet on the present status of the allotments which is as follows:
There are six residential colonies of the provincial government in Karachi. The colony for officers of grade PBS-18 and above: Out of 145 residences, only 12 are against the policy. For grade PBS-17 and above: Out of 12 (two rooms) suits, three are against the policy. For grade 11: Out of 12 flats, only three are against the policy. For grade BPS-17 (Garden West) officers, out of 48 accommodations, only 23 are against the policy. For Grade BPS-11 to 16 officials' accommodation at GOR-II: Out of 222 flats (two rooms) for ministerial staff, 80 are against the policy. For officials of Grade B-1 to 11 GOR-III Shadman Town: There are 182 flats (two rooms), of them 121 are against the policy. At GOR Landhi: There are 333 flats and nine are against the policy.
The cabinet discussed the allotments status and said that the forcibly vacation of the accommodation from those who were residing there against the policy would be ethically wrong. Therefore, the cabinet approved one-time waiver for these allottees and till their retirement they would be entitled to stay there, however no allotment against the policy would be made onward.
The chief minister directed Chief Secretary to get inspection of each and every flat to ensure no outsider was living there. "This is unacceptable and I would not allow misuse of government residences," he said.
Recruitments approved: The Service & General Administration department presented an item to seek permission for starting recruitment for the posts in grade BSP-1 to BSP-15. The chief minister said that these recruitments would be made purely on merit. The guideline is to publish advertisements in the national newspapers and then make selection committees. He also said that in lower grades, only locals be recruited; however, there would a 5percent quota for disabled and 5 percent for minorities.
The cabinet constituted a committee under Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh, CM's Adviser on Law Murtaza Wahab, Secretary Services and Secretary Law to frame rules for recruitment. The cabinet also approved to begin the recruitment process.
Amendments to Local Govt Act: Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani told the cabinet that under Section 27 of Sindh Local Government Act-2013 "A mayor, deputy mayor, chairman or vice chairman shall be removed from office if a vote of no confidence is passed against him or her in the prescribed manner by two-thirds majority of the total number of the members of the council." He said it was against the Constitution in which prime minister, speakers and other highest offices could be removed with simple majority. Therefore, the cabinet substituted the words "in the prescribed manner by two-thirds' majority with 'simple majority.'
He also presented another item for reconstitution of Governing Bodies of different development authorities. The cabinet authorised the local government minister to appoint the remaining members of the DHA and other authorities, where required, and report to the chief minister.
The cabinet approved creation of a separate department in Sindh Board of Investment and also approved renewal of contract of Prof Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Rajput as chairman Charter of Inspection and Evaluation Committee.
The Irrigation department presented three names: ex-secretaries Imtiaz Qazi and Idrees Rajput, and Engr Abdul Basit Soomro for the position of SIDA chairman. The cabinet was told that Idrees Rajput already declined while Imtiaz Qazi who has been member of federal public service commission could not hold any other position, therefore cabinet approved appointment of Basit Soomro as chairman Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority.