The caretaker Sindh cabinet has agreed to allow the federal government to use the land of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) for the establishment of an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on the condition that the land should be utilised exclusively for industrial purposes. The PSM land ownership right has been a bone of contention between the federal and provincial governments.
The cabinet, which convened with caretaker chief minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar in the chair, also made several other decisions which included the approval of an increase in the rates of Abiyana (water charges), conducting surveys of unsurveyed land, and rewriting the record of rights.
Minister of Irrigation Ishwar Lal informed the cabinet that gradual increases in Abiyana rates and water supply charges are necessary to meet the maintenance & repair (M&R) requirements of irrigation infrastructure. The current Abiyana collection is significantly lower than the M&R expenditure.
Read: Export processing zone to be set up on PSM land
The cabinet approved a 100% increase in Abiyana rates for crops and water charges for municipal/domestic, industrial, and commercial uses.
The cabinet was informed that survey of the unsurveyed land would commence in each district, with 32 survey teams being constituted for the purpose. The teams, equipped with DGPS and other accessories, will send their findings to a designated lab for processing and preparation of land records.
Minister of Revenue Younus Dhaga presented plans for the re-writing and special revision of old land records. The cabinet approved a budget of Rs2,922.19 million for this purpose, with 10% to be released in the current financial year and the remainder in the next fiscal year.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st 2024.
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