KARACHI: In another reshuffle in the Sindh cabinet within the past 15 days, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday reallocated the portfolios of information, food, local government, public health engineering and rural development.

One of the two notifications, which were issued by the Sindh government despite the local holiday in the province in connection with the 272nd Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, announced reallocation of the portfolios to four ministers.

Through the other notification, the portfolio of information has been taken back from Senior Minister for Education and Literacy Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, who had it as an additional charge since Aug 17, and assigned to CM adviser Maula Bux Chandio with immediate effect.

Jam Khan Shoro, who was livestock and fisheries minister, has been assigned the local government department.

Mr Khuhro will, however, continue to hold the portfolio of education and literacy department.

Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, whose local government portfolio was taken away from him on Nov 18, has been allocated the food department that was being looked after by Mines and Mineral Development Minister Manzoor Wassan as an additional charge.

Fayyaz Ali Butt, who was special assistant to the chief minister for sports, was made special assistant to the CM for the public health engineering and rural development.

The decision of the reshuffle in the cabinet was taken by the party high command in a meeting held in Dubai on Nov 26. Among others, it was attended by Chief Minister, Faryal Talpur and Home Minister Sohail Ahmad Sial.

This meeting was summoned by PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to sort out differences with the Mahars who were not happy after the withdrawal of the local government portfolio from their nominee Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

Before the decision, Mr Zardari also had a meeting with the Mahars and Nasir Shah who agreed to accept the food ministry.

Sources said some other decisions were also taken in the meeting related to a reshuffle in the bureaucracy, as after the local government elections, the administrative machinery had to be pulled up to improve governance.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015