KARACHI, April 23: Over 42,000 posts are lying vacant in Sindh, which are likely to be filled soon on merit in a transparent manner, it has been learnt.

Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was given a briefing in this connection by provincial Secretary Finance Ghulam Ali Shah Pasha on Wednesday, directed the chief secretary to provide details of appointments made during the period of the caretaker government and by the Arbab Rahim government during its last four months.

He also ordered the cancellation of all such appointments made by the caretaker government and asked the service, general administration and cooperation department to set up an inquiry committee to check whether proper formalities were adopted in appointments made by the Arbab government.

During the briefing, the chief minister was informed that the sanctioned strength of employees in the Sindh government was 510,665, including 279,170 employees in the district governments.

Giving a department-wise break-up of vacancies, the chief minister was informed that there were 23,201 vacancies in the education and literacy department, 6,152 in the health department, 8,430 in the home department and 1,181 posts in the irrigation and power department.

Regarding the financial health of the province, the chief minister was informed there would be a deficit of Rs12.3 billion as the expected expenditure during the 2007-08 fiscal year would be Rs236.1 billion against estimated receipts of Rs223.8bn.

The total budget estimates of current revenue receipts are Rs176.6bn, which includes federal transfers of Rs130.9bn and district support grants of Rs20.4bn, while provincial receipts are Rs25.3bn.

The chief minister was informed that that there was a shortfall of Rs14.5bn in federal transfers and estimated tax receipts were Rs17.5bn and non-tax receipts were Rs7.8bn.

The total current revenue budget for fiscal 2007-08 was Rs166.6bn, which include Rs93.9bn for provincial grants and Rs72.7bn for local governments.

The secretary finance further informed that Rs26.442bn have been allocated for general administration, Rs19.145bn for law and order, Rs23.05bn for social services, Rs73.296bn for grants and subvention and Rs6.5bn for debt servicing.

He said the estimated expenditures of the police department for the current fiscal year would be Rs16,663.1 million, while Rs1,218.7mn were spent for purchase of 1,314 vehicles from 2003 to 2007-08.

The chief minister was also informed that that the province has debt liabilities of Rs168.5bn, which include cash development loan of Rs24.6bn, foreign loans worth Rs114bn and accumulated GP fund liabilities of Rs29.9bn.

Regarding foreign assisted projects in the pipeline, the chief minister was informed there was a loan of Rs50bn for Karachi, Rs18.75bn for the Sindh cities investment programme, Rs5.38bn for Japanese assisted rural roads’ construction and Rs2.68bn for Karachi’s new steel flyovers.

The chief minister also directed the finance department to expedite the process of setting up a Sindh Bank, adding that he would soon hold a meeting with prominent businessmen in this regard.