QUETTA: Balochistan’s new cabinet has decided to de-notify the status of Lehri as district and declare it a part of Sibi district.

Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti stated this while briefing the media about the cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo on Wednesday.

However, it was decided that Sohbatpur would retain its status as a separate district of Nasirabad division, Mr Bugti said.

The meeting also decided to induct 180 candidates into the education department, who had passed the NTS exam in 2015 but had been denied appointments by the previous government.

“The cabinet has decided to accommodate all 180 successful candidates in the education department and will withdraw the petition pending in the apex court in this regard,” Mr Bugti said.

The cabinet called for expediting recruitment on vacancies in government departments on merit. Vacancies would be advertised in newspapers and the departments concerned had been directed to inform the cabinet of the progress in the next meeting.

Mr Bugti said the cabinet also approved the bill regarding setting up of the Chakar Khan University in Sibi and expansion of Civil Defence Department up to divisional headquarters. He said the release of non-development funds, salaries and pension of the third quarter to local bodies and the Arts Council Bill 2017 regarding promotion of arts and culture were also approved.

The meeting directed the social welfare department to prepare recommendations with the help of finance department for establishing welfare fund for special people and submit the same at the next cabinet meeting. The cabinet also directed the social welfare department to prepare a database of special people with the help of deputy commissioners in all districts in which the nature of disability of the special people should be mentioned.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2018