NHA’s request for 400m of land along M-9 turned down

Cabinet approves amendment to ordinance to provide only 50m land along motorways

KARACHI: Instead of giving 400 metres of land on both sides of the newly constructed M-9 Motorway, the Sindh government has decided to give only 50m to the National Highway Authority (NHA) to construct any permanent or temporary structures on both sides of the motorway.

The Sindh Cabinet turned down the NHA’s request and approved an amendment to the West Pakistan Highways Ordinance to give only 50m along the M-9.  "In all others provinces, the NHA has been given only 50m along motorways, but they are insisting on 400m from the Sindh government, which is not possible," Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the CM, referring to his recent meeting with the NHA chairperson and other departments concerned, said, "More than 2,500 structures, including petrol pumps, restaurants and other installations, have been constructed on both sides of the newly constructed motorway and everything after 50m will be razed.”



The cabinet members approved the idea to allot only 50m along the motorway. "After approving the amendment to the West Pakistan Highways Ordinance, the cabinet has referred the bill to the Sindh Assembly," a senior official who was present in the meeting said.

Wheat distribution

Regarding the distribution of wheat, the cabinet also discussed the drought in Thar and called for distribution of free of charge wheat among the residents of Thar. The CM pointed out that a similar situation also prevails in Achhro Thar, Kachho and Kohistan.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro informed the meeting that the CM had formed a committee under him to assess the situation in Thar. He held a meeting with all the stakeholders at the deputy commissioner’s office in Mithi. They told Shoro that Thar received a downpour but the rain was not enough for the crops. He also said that the free distribution of wheat in different phases has improved nutrition among the people of the desert and reduced the overall mortality rate.

The cabinet approved the free distribution of wheat at one bag per family among residents of Thar. In Umerkot, Achhro Thar, Kachho and Kohistan, the wheat distribution mechanism would be evolved by a committee headed by Food Minister Nisar Khuhro.



From 2014 to 2017 1,876,378 free of charge bags of wheat have been distributed in 11 phases. The total cost of the wheat comes to Rs6.6 billion.

Water commission

The health department took an item for relaxation of Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Rules for procurement of eight incinerators at a cost of Rs227.96 million and three ultra-filtration units for Rs52.32 million. The total amount comes to Rs280.28 million, which may also be sanctioned outside the budget.

Health Secretary Dr Fazalullah Pechuho told the meeting the water commission has directed him to expedite the procurement. The cabinet approved the procurement of necessary machinery, approved the extra budget and also allowed the health department to relax the rules to to expedite the procedure.

Regularisation of vets

The cabinet was informed that 145 veterinary officers hailing from different districts of the province were appointed on a contract basis on a fixed pay of Rs50,000 for male and Rs60,000 for female veterinarians for a period of three years in 2015. The contract of these doctors has been extended till June 2018.



The cabinet, on the recommendation of the livestock department, approved regularisation of the services of the veterinarians and referred their draft bill to the assembly.

The CM directed the health secretary to bring the papers for regularisation of doctors working on contract basis to the next cabinet meeting. He also directed other departments to send summaries for regularisation of the services of their contractual employees, if they have any.

Amendment for BRT

The cabinet approved an amendment in Article 52-A of the KDA President Order 5 of 1957. Under the amendment, a bus depot of the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project has been approved on an eight acre amenity plot reserved for a playground. The plot is a total of 12 acres, so the cabinet approved the construction of a playground on the remaining four acres.

Amendment in law officer services

The law department proposed an amendment in the Law Officers (Condition of Service) Rules, 1940. Under the amendment, the appointment of additional advocate-generals shall be made by the CM from amongst lawyers with not less than seven years’ experience as an advocate. The cabinet approved the amendment.



The cabinet also discussed and approved the Sindh Holy Quran (Printing, Recording and Disposal of damaged or Shaheed and Sacred Auraqs) Act, 2018. Under the approved draft law, proper printing and disposal procedure for damaged /old Qurans has been provided.

The law department put up a nomination from the anti-terrorism courts, saying that the high court registrar has conveyed that the chief Justice has been pleased to recall advocates and retired judges for their appointments to the ATCs. The cabinet, after discussing the matter, directed the advocate-general to get clarification from the Sindh High Court regarding reemployment so that the advocates and judges could be appointed.

Budget strategy paper

The cabinet was briefed about the budget strategy paper 2018-19 to 2020-21 prepared by the finance and planning and development departments.

The cabinet was told that the total revenue of 2017-18 was estimated at Rs854.3 billion, against which receipts are Rs773.4 billion. The federal government has given around Rs75 billion less than the estimated receipts.

The chief minister directed the finance department to circulate the budget strategy paper among the cabinet members so that it could be discussed in detail at the next meeting.