Sindh mulls discontinuing KCR

The Sindh Cabinet mulled on Wednesday discontinuing the recently re-initiated operations of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR).

It considered the possibility in light of the observation that with the "old KCR" being made functional again, the "modern KCR", as approved and included in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, could not be launched.

Besides, the cabinet, chaired by CM Murad, was informed that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had 66 CNG buses and all of them were off the road. Upon being urged, the cabinet relaxed the rules for the auction of rights of operation, management and fare collection of the buses, ordering the local government department to auction rights for the next five years.

KCR

The officials of the Transport and Mass Transit Department told the cabinet that of 24 crossings on the KCR's track, 11 were yet to be constructed. The officials said the Frontier Works Organisation was to prepare the PC-1 for the proposed structures and the Sindh government had already released Rs15 million of its Rs25 million share for the purpose.

Approving the release of the remaining Rs10 million, the cabinet observed, however, that the "modern KCR" couldn't be launched with the "old KCR" continuing operations. Hence, it proposed discontinuing the ongoing KCR operations and urged the federal government to work with Chinese authorities to finalise the mechanism to restart the project.

Otherwise, Karachiites being made to travel in old trains will be an injustice to them, cabinet members argued.

CNG buses

When told that all 66 CNG buses owned by the KMC were off the road, the cabinet accepted the LG department's request to relax rules to auction the rights of operation, management and fare collection. It then ordered the department to auction the rights for the next five years.

The KMC buses will run from Gulshan-e-Hadeed to Keamari via Sharae Faisal, among other routes.

Compensation for flood victims

Moreover, the cabinet approved Rs4.02 billion for providing compensation to people affected by heavy rains in Sindh during the monsoon season this year. It also urged the federal government to match the grant.

Estimating that Rs4.02 billion was insufficient for the rehabilitation, the cabinet requested Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to write a letter to the prime minister, requesting another Rs4.02 billion for the purpose.

The cabinet also provisionally agreed to exempt affected small traders and farmers from paying federal and provincial taxes, in a bid to compensate them for the losses they suffered during heavy rains.

In this regard, the Sindh government will request the Centre to exempt small traders and famers from the levies.

The cabinet also granted exemption from taxes on coal mining and coal-fired power generation projects in Thar for the next five years, after the energy department reminded the meeting that the previous exemption had expired in June.

Safe City Project

The home department told the cabinet that the technical process for installing 10,000 CCTV cameras in Karachi had been completed.

At this, the cabinet gave it permission to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) for the cameras' installation.

Home department officials told the cabinet that the project inception report, technical viability assessment report, bidding document, PC-1, survey report and control room survey had already been shared with the NRTC, so that all necessary documents and reports could be finalised prior to the MoU's signing.

Falconry ground

Forest department officials told the cabinet that a Qatari royal had applied for the allotment of non-cultivable land in Jati tehsil, Sujawal, for falconry during 2020-21. They said that he had assured of abiding by all rules and that the compulsory hunting fee, $100,000, had been increased by $5,000.

The cabinet approved the request.

Magisterial powers

Moreover, the cabinet, on the home department's recommendation, granted special magisterial powers to revenue officers and directed the department to consult the high court on the matter.

The powers pertain to the Code of Criminal Procedure, motor vehicle ordinance, Ehtram-e-Ramzan Ordinance1981, price control, prevention of profiteering, prohibition on smoking, manufacture and use of plastic bags, among others.

Besides, the cabinet approved the appointment of Justice (retd) Shahnawaz Tariq as the provincial ombudsman for the protection against harassment of women at workplaces for two years.

It also directed Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani to prepare a report to review the demands for time-scale based promotions by teachers.

Moreover, it exempted the Sindh IGP from abiding by the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules, when he told the cabinet that he intended to procure 700 9mm pistols from Wah Industries. The cabinet also approved Rs630 million for the purpose.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2020.