KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expanded his cabinet on Monday by inducting four more ministers. This was the third phase of expansion in the Sindh cabinet whose strength, after the induction of the new ministers, reached 16 ministers and two advisers.

The members of the assembly sworn in as ministers by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail at a ceremony held at Governor House were: Taimur Talpur from Umerkot, Syed Awais Shah from Sukkur, Murtaza Baloch from Malir and Abdul Bari Pitafi from Ghotki.

The number of the cabinet has now grown to 16 besides two advisers

Earlier in the first phase, the chief minister had inducted eight ministers in his cabinet on Aug 19 while in the second phase he added four more ministers in the cabinet on Sept 5. After the third phase on Monday, the chief minister still has a provision to induct two more ministers. The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by acting chief secretary Mohammad Waseem and was attended by Sindh PPP president Nisar Khuhro, provincial ministers, MPAs, MNAs, bureaucrats and notables.

Crime databank

The Sindh government and the federal government on Monday agreed to establish a databank of crime and criminals on the national level with access to the provincial government so that necessary action could be taken accordingly.

“We had taken this decision in the apex committee meeting during the last tenure but it could not be implemented and now it is the need of the hour,” the chief minister said after his meeting with visiting Minister of State for Interior Sheheryar Afridi to issue necessary directives to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for cooperating with the Sindh police in identification issues of the accused of heinous crimes.

The chief minister praised the police and the Rangers saying that some 2,200 policemen and a large number of Rangers personnel had sacrificed their lives for the restoration of peace in Karachi and “we owe a word of thanks to them and their families”.

Murad Ali Shah said that the general and by-elections had been held in the city in a peaceful manner. “This is because of restored law and order. Otherwise this was not possible,” he said.

The state minister on behalf of the federal government assured the chief minister of full support and cooperation in every sector, particularly on law and order issues.

Earlier, at the start of the meeting Fateha was offered for the martyrs of police, Rangers and other members of law enforcement agencies who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty during the operation in the city.

Civil services

The chief minister, who also had a meeting with Prime Minister’s Adviser for Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain at CM House, said he was committed to introducing reforms in provincial civil service. Every government servant ought to be given an ample opportunity for upward mobility (promotion), he said and added that there was a dire need for introducing reforms in civil bureaucracy’s old structure. “We would frame some reforms and share the same with you,” he told the visiting adviser.

Murad Ali Shah said that every employee who joined government service must have a proper service structure so that he could work hard for his future. “Service structure would also be made for every cadre of provincial service,” he said.

Dr Ishrat Hussain, who is an ex-bureaucrat also, said that the structure of bureaucracy was an old one and now it must be improved.

The chief minister said he would form a committee to suggest reforms and the same would be shared with the federal government.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2018