Rs10b set aside for nullah affectees

6,932 families will get cash handouts of Rs1.450 each for construction of their houses

KARACHI:

The Sindh cabinet has greenlit several key development projects, including substantial allocations and new programs aimed at enhancing infrastructure and public services in the metropolitan city and beyond. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presided over the cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The provincial government set aside Rs10.065 billion for the resettlement of families displaced by the Gujjar, Mahmoodabad, and Orangi nullahs. Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani stated that 6,932 families will benefit from this initiative.

The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has proposed a cost of Rs1.45 million per 80 square-yard house, with payments scheduled at different construction stages.

The cabinet also approved Rs4.621 billion for internal development, including essential infrastructure. A 258-acre plot in Taiser Town, Scheme 45, Malir Development Authority, has been earmarked for the housing scheme.

The cabinet also approved a grant of Rs12.72 billion for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) to rehabilitate the existing Hub Canal and construct a new 100mgd canal. The chief minister stressed the need for completing the project on an emergency basis by September 2025.

Similarly, an amount of Rs200 million was approved for the Jamila Sewerage Pumping Station, which, built in 1880, now needs overhaul to handle increased sewerage loads. The money will be used for comprehensive infrastructure improvements to enhance its capacity.

The provincial cabinet also greenlit the formation of the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) under the Sindh Regulation of Electric Power Services Act, 2023. The authority will include a chairman and three members, with an initial budget of Rs197.916 million for 2024-25.

The cabinet sanctioned the allotment of 1,381.34 acres of land for a new railway line connecting the Thar coal field to Chhor and 30 acres for a line from Bin Qasim to Port Qasim. This infrastructure is intended to facilitate coal transportation for power generation. Forty acres of land in Landhi, District Korangi, has been allocated for the establishment of the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD).

The cabinet okayed the allotment of 1,462 acres for three Solar Parks under the Sindh Solar Energy Project. These parks will have a combined capacity of 320MW and are located in Jamshoro, Karachi, and Malir districts. The Land Utilisation Department has issued e-stamp duty of Rs1.362 billion for these sites, which the chief minister decided against exempting.

CM Shah introduced the People's Information Technology Program (PITP), aimed at enhancing IT skills for youth across the province. The program will provide certifications in various IT fields and be implemented by NED University, Mehran University, and IBA University in targeted districts. The cabinet approved the initiative and urged universities to launch it immediately.

The cabinet decided to relocate the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) from the Chief Minister's Secretariat to the Finance Department, aligning with practices in other provinces.