Cabinet approves funds for election expenses
Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar approved Rs24.3 billion to address pension and gratuity liabilities, payment of salaries for Covid-19 doctors and supporting staff, and to meet expenses related to maintaining law and order during the February 8 general elections.
The chief minister presided over a cabinet meeting at the CM House, attended by provincial ministers, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Chairman P&D Shakil Mangnejo, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Secretary Finance Kazim Jatoi, and other concerned officers.
During the meeting, the cabinet was informed that due to the financial constraints, the budgetary allocations of pension payments were limited therefore pending liabilities and the number of retired civil servants waiting to receive their post-retirement benefits, have been continuously on the rise.
In response, the chief minister directed the finance department to hold meetings in each district to redress their grievances.
As of November 30, 2023, as many as 19,537 retired civil servants are awaiting their dues, amounting to Rs36.942 billion. The CM approved Rs21.558 billion to clear the backlog, including Rs0.973 billion for gratuity, Rs5.301 billion for LPR, and Rs15.284 billion for commutation.
The CM also instructed the establishment of complaint cells in the CM secretariat and all provincial departments to address post-retirement benefit concerns.
The cabinet was told that during the Covid-19 pandemic services of doctors, staff nurses, para-medical staff, skilled and supporting workers were hired on a "Service Rendered Basis" for 89 days in 2020.
The health department kept extending the services of doctors and other staff from time to time up to June 2023. Meanwhile, the health department issued a circular for the continuation of services of Covid-19 doctors and staff nurses, till receiving recommendations from the SPSC.
However, services of 1,054 technical and supporting para-medical staff and 4,502 skilled and supporting human resources have not been extended from April 1, 2023. The cabinet extended their hiring period to June 2024, subject to verification, and approved Rs4.06 billion for their salaries during 2023-24.
Read Election expenses may exceed Rs49 billion
Addressing the meeting, the home department requested an additional grant of Rs625.467 million for the police to meet expenses related to maintaining law and order during the upcoming general elections. These funds are allocated for all police ranges, traffic police, and the IG Police office.
The provincial cabinet approved a grant of Rs3500 million for KWSB to execute the project of laying a dedicated water supply pipeline from Dumloti to Defence Housing Authority and Rs2,500 million for a dedicated water supply pipeline for SITE industrial area Karachi.
Additionally, the cabinet approved a grant of Rs18.821 million for the Governor House to procure a fully equipped ambulance with a ventilator on administrative-cum-need basis.
The Chinese government has agreed to extend a grant assistance for the construction of houses for lady health workers. These prefabricated houses will have two rooms each. The Chinese government has committed to providing 2,000 units to Sindh, with the possibility of increasing it to 4,019 units if the provincial government takes responsibility for inland transportation and infrastructure.
A committee under the local government minister will calculate transportation charges and other expenditures and submit a report within a week for a final decision.
The cabinet also acknowledged the need to gradually increase Abiana and Water Rate to meet the Maintenance and Repair (M&R) requirements of irrigation infrastructure. The current Abiana recovery is much lower than the M&R expenditure, emphasising the necessity for revision. The Chief Minister constituted a cabinet committee under Revenue Minister Younus Dhaga to assess the situation and submit recommendations.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2024.