Sindh govt plans to financially empower local councils

Allocations for local govt increased from Rs88 billion to Rs121.9 billion

KARACHI:

Sindh budget seeks to empower local councils financially for good governance and service delivery at the grassroots level, the official document states.

Considering the increasing needs of local councils, the Sindh government has provided an additional Rs33.9 billion, increasing the grant to local councils from Rs88 billion to Rs121.9 billion, with a proposal to allocate Rs160 billion for the next financial year.

The Sindh government has also increased the grant to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) by 50 per cent and the pension share by 17.5 per cent, and has provided Rs555 million to KMC for cleanliness activities in Karachi division.

Additionally, Rs410 million has been allocated for the cleanliness of all storm drains and sewers in Karachi.

The grant to the Karachi Development Authority has been increased by Rs400 million, and the share of the Sindh Local Government Board has been increased by Rs81.4 million.

Furthermore, the Sindh government is introducing the Benazir Labour Card, for which Rs5 billion has been proposed.

According to the budget speech, registered labourers under the Labour Department will be eligible for complete medical coverage, cash benefits, injury grants during employment, maternity coverage, death grants, disability pensions, survivor pensions, worker welfare fund cash grants, marriage grants, education grants, and scholarships through the Benazir Labour Card.