Sindh government plans to purchase 138 double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners

Despite the Sindh government's claims of reducing expenditures under an austerity drive, it has approved the purchase of 138 luxury double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners across the province, sources revealed on Wednesday.

According to well-informed sources, the services, general administration, and coordination department requested the finance department to release approximately Rs2 billion for the procurement of 138 4x4 double-cabin vehicles.

This approval was granted by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah earlier this week before his departure for a week-long visit to the United States.

The decision to allocate funds for these vehicles comes as the provincial government faces financial constraints, having decided not to initiate any new development projects under the Annual Development Programme for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

The section officer-budget of the services department had sent the copy of a summary approved by the Sindh chief minister to the finance department and stated that the CM had accorded “permission to procure 138 vehicles (4x4 Double Cabin) in respect of Assistant Commissioners from existing budgetary allocation”.

It said: “Finance Department, Government of Sindh, is therefore, requested to release entire withheld funds amounting to Rs1,991,892,000/= allocated under head of account SC2114(114)-Board of Revenue-A09501-Purchase of Transport by placing the same at the disposal of Senior Member, Board of Revenue, Sindh, to procure 138 vehicles (4x4 Double Cabin) in respect of Assistant Commissioners through centralised procurement mechanism in one go, during current financial year, 2024-25, as per rules/policy.”

Chief Minister House spokesperson Rasheed Channa informed a private news channel that the funds for purchasing vehicles for assistant commissioners were already allocated and approved in the provincial budget.

He explained that the provincial government is procuring these vehicles after a 12-year gap, as the last purchase for assistant commissioners, who also serve as revenue officers in the districts, was made in 2012.

While speaking to a private news channel Rasheed Channa told that "It is a necessary expense, as vehicles are required for official duties, particularly in rural areas of the province,"

Meanwhile, sources indicated that even more costly vehicles would be purchased for deputy commissioners throughout the province