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Karachi, November 02, 2016 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that he would take up all the pending issues with the federal government in the forth coming CCI meeting to be held in Islamabad. This he said while presiding over a meeting to discuss CCI issues in a specially convened meeting at New Secretariat today.
The meeting was attended by provincial Ministers, Dr Sikander Mendhro, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Mumtaz Jakhrani, Syed Sardar Shah, Ghulam Qadir Malakani, Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Sindh Siddique Memon, concerned secretaries and others. It was pointed out that Karachi has the need of 1200 cusecs (650 MGD) additional water for domestic use of the city. Therefore, the federal government in CCI meeting would be asked to allocate water from the Indus River system.
The chief minister said that Karachi was the 7th largest metropolitan mega city in the world and has the highest urban growth rate in the world. He added that per capita domestic water consumption has dropped to 12.75 gallons per capita per day (g/c/d) where as international standard is 40 g/c/d. Therefore, he would take up the issue in the CCI meeting.
The chief minister also developed a consensus in the meeting that he would take up the issues of 6th population and Housing Census in CCI meeting. He said that census could be conducted in Sindh by engaging Pakistan army and Rangers. It was pointed out in the meeting that two million Afghan nationals with additional 1.5 million aliens as registered by NARA are present in Sindh. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to exclude them in the census. The chief minister assured the meeting that he would press the CCI meeting to decided the date for census.
The Polulation Welfae Department said that the federal government has reduced the allocation of funds. They not transferred the possession of directorate of Central Warehouse and Supplies, Karachi and the transfer of National Research Institute for Fertility Care (NIFC), Karachi. The chief minister was told that ECNEC has approved PC-I of Population Welfare Programme, Sindh 2010-15 at a cost of Rs13336.043 million.
The CCI had decided that the federal government would continue funding till current NFC award- 2016 but funds have not been provided. The federal government released Rs10412.067 against the Rs13336.043 million PC-I which shows a shortfall of Rs2923.471 million. The chief minister decided to take up the issue in the CCI meeting.
The agriculture department said that the devolution of Plant Protection Department (MINFAL), including standardization of pesticides and fertilizers, seed testing and seed certification has not been made while the said function were being performed by the agriculture department. The chief minister directed the department to frame the required laws by the time he would take up the matter with the federal government.
The culture department said that assets of some department have not been transferred to them. They include central Archaeological Library, Pakistan Culture and Arts Foundation Relief Fund (for awarding stipends to the deserving and needy artists), Museum Compensation Fund (the earnings out of the Artifacts lent for exhibition are pooled, the share of which has to be transferred to Sindh government0, Motel at Hawksbay, Tourist Information Center Thatta, Motel and Tourist Information Center, Moen-jo-Daro and 32 canal land at Sukkur.
The chief minister directed them to take up the matter with concerned ministry in the federal government and present Sindh case. In case of any problem he would take up the issue on his own. The Zakat dept told the chief minister that the Sindh government under the 18th amendment is supposed to collect zakat but there were no specific instructions to the state bank to transfer the zakat collected from to Sindh to zakat department. The chief minister said he would take up the issue in the CCI meeting.
The workers department said that the provincial government has enacted Sindh Employees Old Age Benefit Act 2014 despite the fact the EOBI has not been devolved to Sindh government. The Labour department also added that 1024 flats constructed at Sukkur, 200 bedded surgical hospital Sukkur, 512 flats at Shaheed Benazirabad, High school Choondko, Khairpur; 50-bedded hospital at Choondko, Khairpur and 128 falts and infrastructure at Sujawal have not been handed over to Sindh Workers Welfare Board, Sindh. The chief minister said that he would take up the issues of transfer of falts, hospitals with the federal government. As far as EOBI is concerned the Punjab government has filed a suit in the supreme court to stop FBR EOBI collections. He directed the law advisor to be a party in the case.
The health department said that the administrative control of some institutions like Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Nursing Council, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan, National Council of Tib, National Council of Homeopathy, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Directorate of Central Health Establishment and Tobacco control cell have not been given to Sindh. The chief minister said that he would take up the issue but by the time clear legal advice may be given to him.
The Livestock and Fisheries department said that some institutions have not been devolved to Sindh so far. They are Quality Control Laboratory Karachi, Marine Fisheries Research Laboratory, Karachi, Fisheries Research Center, Oceanography and Hydrological Research, Central Fisheries Department and Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority.
The energy department said that the federal government should stop collection of royalty on Crude Oil being residual subject. They suggested some amendments in the law for which they requested the chief minister to take up the issue in the CCI. There were some other legal issues which the chief minister decided to take up in the CCI meeting.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Abdul Rasheed Channa,
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019 (Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk