KARACHI: While fixing the issue price of a 100-kilogramme wheat bag at Rs3,687.50, the Sindh cabinet on Tuesday decided to not hold any talks with the federal government over the issue of twin islands off Karachi’s coast till the presidential ordinance was withdrawn.

At the outset of the cabinet meeting, chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the issue of twin islands of Bundal and Buddu came under discussion.

All provincial ministers, advisers, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Advocate General Salman Talibuddin and secretaries concerned were present.

The cabinet members, once again, called upon the federal government to withdraw the controversial ordinance promulgated to establish the Pakistan Islands Development Authority (PIDA).

Approves issue price of 100-kg wheat bag; food secretary claims atta is available for Rs57 a kilo

The cabinet members decided that no talks on the islands would be held with the federal government until and unless the controversial ordinance was withdrawn.

The cabinet termed the ordinance an attempt to grab provincial government’s lands by trampling the rights of local fishermen.

“We will not accept the ordinance as it is against the provincial autonomy and against the interest of local people,” the cabinet members said unanimously.

Atta to be available for Rs47.87 a kilo: food secy

The cabinet, after a thorough discussion and deliberations, approved fixation of the issue price of wheat at Rs3,687.50 per 100-kg bag so that ex-mill atta (flour) price could be brought down by Rs9.13 per kg.

The food secretary while giving a presentation to the cabinet said that at present a wheat stock of 1.262 million metric ton (mmt) was available in six divisions of the province.

He added that the atta prices were stable in the market and it had been recorded at Rs57 per kg.

The chief minister said that the atta price had to be brought down because wheat was available in the market.

The cabinet, on the recommendation of Food Minister Hari Ram, approved releasing of wheat to flour mills from Oct 16.

The issue price was approved at Rs3,687.50 per 100kg with bardana. The cabinet was informed that with the new issue price of wheat atta prices would come down by Rs9.13 per kilo and the new price of atta would come to Rs47.87 per kg.

The chief minister directed the food department to ensure reduction of atta price at ex-mill level.

He directed the chief secretary to mobilise the district administration and pass on the benefit of reduction of atta price to the people of the province.

Infrastructure development cess exemption

Energy Minister Imtiaz Sheikh said that the excise and taxation department had granted exemption from the infrastructure development cess (IDC) on imports of coal mining and coal-based electricity generation companies in Thar coalfield. He said that it was time bound and expired on June 30, 2020.

It was also pointed out that the Economic Coordination Committee had also announced an incentive package to accelerate development in Thar. The ECC incentives include zero per cent custom duty, exemption from special excise duty, federal excise duty, workers welfare and participation funds, withholding tax on procurement of goods and services and other levies for 30 years.

The cabinet was informed that local companies would generate 660 MW. Keeping in view the development potential in Thar coalfield, the cabinet approved exemption of IDC on imports for a period of 30 years as per ECC’s 30-year incentive package.

The cabinet also approved enhancement of the Sindh sales tax on services of transportation or carriage of petroleum oils through oil tankers from 13pc to 15pc to maintain uniformity with other provinces. It would not create any burden on the consumers and would not develop any impact on the petroleum prices.

The cabinet approved a draft bill of the IBA Sukkur University Sukkur (Amendment) Act, 2020 just to maintain uniformity in the organisation, management and control of public sector universities and degree awarding institutes by amending certain laws.

The approved amendments were referred to the assembly.

The cabinet also approved the appointment of Abdul Rauf Chandio as chief executive officer of the Sindh Modaraba Management Ltd for a period of three years being the first priority candidate as suggested by the company’s board of directors.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2020