KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on Thursday approved amendment to the West Pakistan Highways Ordinance to allow construction of any permanent or temporary structure outside 50 metres from the middle of the Superhighway, now M9, on its right and 50 metres on its left.

The cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and attended by all provincial ministers, advisers and officials concerned, also approved amendment to an article of the KDA President Order 5 of 1957 to allow construction of a bus depot of BRT Green Line project over an amenity plot.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said the ordinance as amended and approved by the cabinet regarding right of way of the M9 project would be called West Pakistan Highways (Sindh Amendment) Act 2018.

The cabinet was told that after construction of Superhighway, the right of way was being expanded to hundreds of metres without any justification. In other provinces where Motorway or Superhighway had been built only 50 metres right of way on its both sides had been given. Therefore, the same standard is being adopted here.

Cabinet approves one wheat bag free for each family living in Thar

The amendment as approved by the cabinet was referred to the provincial assembly for discussion and approval.

The cabinet also discussed the drought-like situation in Thar and approved free distribution of wheat among the people of Thar. One wheat bag per family would be given.

The health department raised an item for relaxation of SPPRA Rules for procurement of eight incinerators for Rs227.96 million and three ultra filtration units for Rs52.315m. The total amount comes to Rs280.281m which may also be sanctioned outside budget.

Health Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho told the meeting that the Water Commission had directed him to expedite the procurement, therefore necessary permission and approval may be accorded.

The cabinet approved the procurement of necessary machinery, approved budget and allowed the health department to open LC and SPPRA Rules were relaxed to expedite the procedure.

The cabinet on the recommendation of livestock department approved regularisation of the services of vet officers and referred their draft bill to Sindh Assembly.

The chief minister directed the health secretary to bring the papers for regularisation of doctors working on contract basis in the next cabinet meeting.

The cabinet also approved amendment to Article 52-A of the KDA President Order 5 of 1957.

Under the amendment a bus depot of BRT Green Line project would be built over an area of eight acres amenity plot reserved for a playground.

The ground has 12 acres of land. The cabinet approved construction of bus depot on eight acres and development of the playground on the remaining four acres.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2018