KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to delegate magisterial powers to Mukhtiarkars and DDOs to control the prices of daily-use items.
The decision came at the Sindh Cabinet meeting which was held on Saturday with Chief Minister Qaim Ali in chair. It was also decided to establish a child protection authority and to provide protection to witnesses appearing in court. Cabinet members will now meet in the first week of every month.
Adviser Sharmila Farooqui said that the cabinet decided to delegate magisterial powers to the DDOs and Mukhtiarkars in different districts. A six-member committee, comprising Senior Minister Pir Mazharul Haq, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly Syed Sardar Ahmed, Labour Minister Amir Nawab and Adviser Imtiaz Shaikh, has been formed. The committee will recommend punishments.
The cabinet also decided to abolish the policy of possessing arms licences without any fee. Officials, elected members and ministers are exempted but now everyone will have to pay.
On child protection, a bill for which has already passed, an authority will be established by the women’s development minister. “The funds will be allocated after establishing units in different districts,” she said.
Two summaries — protection for witnesses and fines for traffic rules violation — were presented to the chief minister. Mirza pointed out that witnesses, especially those in terrorism cases, are being killed and this is discouraging people from offering testimonies.
The members also recommended an increase in fines for traffic violators. A three-member committee of Soomro, Syed Sardar Ahmed and Murad Ali Shah, will suggest ways to cut extra expenses.
The cabinet has approved the export of 371,000 metric tons of wheat. There are more than 700,000 metric tons in the godowns and 300,000 metric tons will last till March 31 after which new wheat will come into the market. The participants also reviewed an ordinance passed in 2000 to “dismiss” government officials from service after being found guilty. “The ordinance is not being utilised properly,” said Farooqui. Pir Mazharul Haq, Soomro and Ahmed will assess it.
Another committee will be formed to find out how to revive Sindh Cooperative Bank. The budget for 2010-11 was also reviewed and the cabinet was informed that Rs52 billion have been saved from cuts in development schemes.
The cabinet also approved the building of a new block, A-4 and A-B, for Sindh Secretariat.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2011.
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