Sindh slashes fuel expense by 40%

Amid a drastic increase in the prices of petroleum products by the federal government in line with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government of Sindh has decided to reduce petroleum expenditure by 40 per cent.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved a 40 per cent cut in the fuel quota for all provincial government officials and ministers, including the CM.

Murad took notice of the latest fuel price hike and said that the rising prices should not impact the provincial treasury. “Overburdening the treasury means overburdening the masses,” he added.

The provincial chief executive also said that the reduction in the fuel quota will help reduce the strain on the treasury and thereby help share the burden on the masses.

The announcement by the Sindh government comes after severe backlash following yet another hike in the prices of petroleum products.

Sindh, Centre to work together for social protection

The provincial government of Sindh and Federal Ministry of Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety have agreed to work together to launch pro-poor and social protection initiatives through Benazir card.

Under the plan, the initiatives such as cash transfers, scholarships, nutrition, immunization and such programmes for eligible women and children, particularly the girls are on the cards of provincial government.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting with Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety here at CM House on Friday. Those attended the meeting from Sindh govt, include Minister Education Sardar Shah, CM Special Assistant Haris gazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hasaan Naqvi, Secretary Health Zulfiqar Shah, Secretary Education Akbar Leghari, Special Secretary to CM Rahim Shaikh, PS Special Protection Unit Nisar Memon. The federal minister’s team comprised on Secretary Benazir Income Support Program Dr Ismat Tahira, DG National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) Naveed Akbar, DG Sindh BNISP Samar Talpur, Director Baitul Mal Dr Adnan, Poverty Alleviation Group leader Ahmed Ali Khattak.

The CM said that his government’s social protection was aimed at providing income or consumption transfers to the poor, protect the vulnerable against livelihood risks and volatility and enhance the human capital and rights of the marginalized with the overall objective of reducing the economic and social vulnerability of poor, vulnerable and marginalized individuals, and communities.”

Mr Shah social protection said a small-scale pilots on food security and women agricultural workers have been initiated. The Mother and Child Support Programme (MCSP) has been launched and scaled up to two  districts, Tharparkar and Umerkot.

Murad Shah disclosed that negotiation with World Bank for support to the tune of $200 million over next 5 years to were in final stage. He added that MCSP would be scaled up to rural areas province wide.

CM Special Assistant on Social Protection Haris Gazdar said that the Mother and Child Support programme offered cash support to women for antenatal and postnatal health check-ups, safe child birth, child growth monitoring, immunization, and child birth registration. He added that the programme supported mothers from pregnancy till the time their child turns 2-year.

Any pregnant woman who is interested in being part of the programme must visit a selected public health facility, the CM said and added for each of the prescribed health visit fulfilled, the beneficiary would receive a text message indicating that she may receive her cash support at her nearest payment agent through biometric verification.

According to the chief minister so far Rs16.44 million have been disbursed, including Rs7.55 million.

Federal Minister Shahzia Marri told the meeting that under Benazir Card cash transfer of Rs7,000 quarterly was provided to eligible women beneficiaries.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2022.