Islamabad: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah led a cabinet meeting on September 23 in Karachi, addressing the province’s flood situation and approving significant reforms across multiple sectors. The meeting, held at CM House, included provincial ministers, advisers, and senior officials.
The chief minister reviewed flood management, highlighting Sindh’s six-week flood threat. Two waves hit the province, with the second peaking at 635,000 cusecs on September 15. Effective preparation mitigated the impact, with only 17 of 528 planned relief camps activated. The Health and Livestock Departments provided medical care and vaccinations, respectively. Shah commended inter-agency cooperation while emphasizing the need for future preparedness given changing weather patterns.
Financial reforms aim to empower local administration. Changes to financial rules decentralize arrears claims processing, giving more authority to departmental committees. Schools gained financial autonomy through cost centers, enabling headteachers to manage operational budgets directly. Mukhtiarkars will also receive financial powers under a land digitization pilot project in Matiari and Sukkur, mirroring similar empowerment given to SHOs previously.
A new 250-inmate District Prison and Correctional Facility in Thatta was notified to address overcrowding. Thirteen Anti-Terrorism Courts were re-designated to handle narcotics cases, with interim powers granted to other courts until dedicated narcotics courts are established.
The Culture Department’s mandate expanded to include global promotion of Sindhi culture, tourism regulation, and archaeological preservation. It will oversee related bodies like the Sindhi Language Authority and the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation.
Agricultural improvements include procuring mobile testing vans for weights and measures verification, increasing inspection capacity. The Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) gained authorization to share data with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL), and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to expand the tax base.
Road safety measures focus on establishing 10 Heavy Vehicle Fitness Centers across Sindh, equipped with modern European testing equipment. Five centers will be in Karachi, with one each at divisional headquarters. The Transport department will oversee the application and selection process for the centers.
The comprehensive reforms demonstrate a commitment to efficient administration, local empowerment, and sustainable growth.