Mir Raza commission gets extension until Oct 15

Cabinet approves wheat release from Oct 20, 200-bed hospital in North Karachi

KARACHI:

The Sindh cabinet on Thursday extended the tenure of the Judicial Commission probing the death of Mir Raza Ali until October 15, giving the panel additional time to complete its proceedings and finalise its findings.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, which also approved wheat release to flour mills from October 20, a 200-bed mother and child hospital in North Karachi and several judicial appointments.

The cabinet was told that the commission, headed by Justice Umar Sial, had recorded statements from several witnesses but needed more time to complete its inquiry. It was also authorised to continue proceedings beyond October 15 if required.

The cabinet discussed rising flour prices, with Food Minister Makhdoom Mehboob Zaman saying wheat in Karachi was selling at around Rs12,500 per 100kg bag.

Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah directed that government wheat be released to licensed flour mills and chakkis through a regulated mechanism. The release is proposed to begin on October 20. Sindh has more than 9.19 million 100kg bags, including old and newly procured stocks, confiscated wheat, PASSCO supplies and imports expected by month-end.

The cabinet considered a proposal to ban migratory bird hunting in Sindh after a wildlife survey recorded 143,460 birds across six divisions, compared with 140,866 last year.

A ministerial subcommittee was formed to examine the environmental impact, enforcement and international practices before making recommendations. It comprises Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Syed Sardar Shah, Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Rajvir Singh Sodha.

The cabinet approved converting the Sindh Government Children's Hospital in North Karachi into a 200-bed mother and child hospital under the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology. It will provide free maternal, newborn and paediatric care in Central District.

Chhinnesar Dispensary and Maternity Home was also approved for upgrading and round-the-clock operation by the Indus Hospital and Health Network, serving more than 122,000 people.

The cabinet approved amendments facilitating Phase III expansion of the Thar Block-II mining project, increasing annual capacity from 7.6 million to 11.2 million tonnes. The energy secretary was authorised to sign the revised agreements.

The cabinet approved the Sindh Government Lands Management Act 2026, replacing the 1912 law, and fixed Larkana University's affiliation jurisdiction for Larkana and Qambar Shahdadkot districts.

It also approved appointments for vacant anti-terrorism and narcotics courts, new boards for law colleges affiliated with the University of Sindh and Karachi University, and the purchase of 87 vehicles for district judiciary officers and newly appointed Sindh High Court judges.

The cabinet further endorsed Rs1 billion for Phase I of the STAR WASH programme through the Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees to improve water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in rural Sindh.