Rain losses assessment ordered

Chief minister says federal govt will be approached for compensation

KARACHI:

The Sindh cabinet on Tuesday directed the district administrations across the province to start assessment of rain losses, so that the federal government could be approached for compensation to the affected people.

The chief minister directed the Local Government Department to get all the damaged roads and sewerage infrastructures of Karachi and other districts repaired.

He issued these directives while presiding over a cabinet meeting at the CM House. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary, chairman P&D and other concerned officers.

The cabinet was told that the heavy monsoon rains had wreaked havoc in the metropolitan city and rural areas of the province.

Advisor on Agriculture Manzoor Wassan said that heavy rains have washed away the date harvest in Khairpur, causing billions of rupees losses to growers. He also referred to the damage caused to other Kharif crops in the province.

The chief minister directed the deputy commissioners across the province to assess the losses, including lives, properties, roads network, drainage and sewerage system, so that the federal government could be approached for compensation. He added that his government would also help the affected people from its resources.

The cabinet approved a proposal to constitute a seven-member management board under the secretary school education to run 53 educational institutions, including 31 schools and 22 madrassas taken over by the government in compliance with the FATF terms.

Education Minister Sardar Shah told the cabinet that his department has taken steps to oversee the management of all the educational institutions. He added that the administrators have been appointed to run these seminaries. The management board has been assigned to run these institutions.

At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet members expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of army officers in the Lasbela helicopter tragedy.

The cabinet also offered Fateh for the people who lost their lives during the heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan.

The cabinet was told that the roads and drainage infrastructure on all the seven routes of Peoples Bus Service was damaged at different locations. Proper repairs would help smooth operations of the newly launched bus service.

The cabinet approved a fund of Rs1.5 billion for the repair works to be carried out through KMC, KDA and water board.

Solarisation of villages

The cabinet also approved a proposal of the Energy Department to provide an alternative energy solution like Solar PV Technology for solarisation of villages.

Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh, while briefing the cabinet, said that mini grids and solar home systems would be established to provide electricity to villages under a village electrification plan. Shaikh said that solarisation of villages would be a quick and economical solution for electrification.

The cabinet approved the proposal and CM Shah directed the Energy Department to prequalify firms on a divisional level to undertake solarisation of villages which have no electricity.

On the request of an NGO, Children of Adam, the cabinet approved allotment of 10 acres of land for establishment of Neuro Psychiatric Center at Deh Konkar, Karachi. The price fixation committee had fixed the market price of the land at Rs13 million per acre, but the cabinet approved it at 50 per cent of the market price - which means Rs6.5 million per acre.

Information Minister Sharjeel Memon told the cabinet that 75 acres of land was given to Hyderabad Press Club. He added that the club body has requested that the capital value tax (CVT), registration fee, and other taxes may be exempted.

At this Revenue Minister Makhdoom Mahboob said that there was no provision to grant exemption. He proposed that the cabinet may give a grant to the press club for payment of their taxes which the cabinet approved.

The cabinet also approved the rules of Sindh Public Service Commission (Functions) 2022.