KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday expressed serious reservations over the water shortage during the ongoing kharif season, and urged the federal government to distribute the water shortage among the provinces as per the 1991 Water Accord.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House. It was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, chief secretary, advocate general of Sindh and others.

At the outset of the meeting, the cabinet members said that due to the water shortage, the growers of Sindh were facing serious problems. The cabinet members admitted that there was a water shortage in the system, but it must be distributed among the provinces as per the agreed formula in the accord. But that was not being done and an exclusive favour was being given to Punjab, they said.

Provincial cabinet says undue favour is being given to Punjab

The cabinet also expressed reservation over the ongoing anti-encroachment drive launched by Pakistan Railways in different districts, particularly in Sukkur and Rohri. The cabinet asked the chief minister to take up both the issues — water shortage and railways anti-encroachment drive — with the federal government.

Municipal functions

The local government department asked the cabinet that the solid waste management functions of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, municipal committees of Qasimabad, Kotri, Tando Allahyar with the relevant staff and moveable assets be transferred to the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board.

The cabinet approved the proposal.

Educational boards chairmen

The university and boards department told the meeting that the tenure of chairmen of different educational boards had either expired or was on the verge of expiring. An extension of their tenure till the appointment of new chairmen was requested.

The cabinet decided to extend the tenure of certain chairmen for three months.

Mass Transit Authority

The transport department presented a draft Recruitment (Services) Rules for the posts of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority. The authority is going to recruit 124 staff members in different positions.

SRB

Chairman of the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) Khalid Mahmood asked the cabinet to grant remission of the penalty and interest/additional amount for two categories.

He told the cabinet that the proposed relief was likely to secure outstanding arrears of the Workers Welfare Fund and the Sindh Companies Profits (workers participation) fund of Rs2 billion in June 2021.

Environmental tribunal

The cabinet approved the appointment of retired Justice Nisar Mohammad Shaikh as chairman of the Environmental Protection Tribunal, Abdul Rauf Memon as a member (technical) and Advocate Mohammad Arif as a member (legal).

Mines Act 2021

The Mines and Mineral Department presented a draft Sindh Metalliferous Mines Act-2021. Minister for Mines and Minerals Shabbir Bijarani said that his department was being regulated under the Federal Mines Act 1923 to ensure health and safety of mine workers.

Rules of succession

The provincial cabinet approved the rules of the Sindh Letters of Administration and Succession Certificate, 2021.

Sindh EOBI

The cabinet approved appointment of the board of trustees of the Sindh Employees Old-age Benefits Institution for two years.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2021