KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah reviewed ongoing development portfolio of different departments at CM House and decided to de-freeze Rs 208.113 billion of 4,158 ongoing and other schemes. It may be noted that Chief Minister has frozen all development funds due to emergency of heavy rains and floods that wreaked havoc in province.

Sindh ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Shah, Zia Abbas Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Finance Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary to CM Rahim Shaikh, Secretary Local government Najam Shah, Secretary Works Imran Atta, Secretary Irrigation Sohail Qureshi, Member P&D Fatah Tunio and concerned officials attended. Chairman P&D briefing CM said that 4,185 schemes were going on with an allocation of Rs 204.652 billion against which Rs 119.649 billion were released but amount was frozen by government.

CM reviewed ongoing schemes, including 1,182 schemes of Rs 58.345 billion. Another 333 schemes of Rs 98.831 billion likely to be completed in current financial years were given total funds in three installments but were frozen. 991 schemes of Rs 95.969 billion were being released in four installments to be completed during current financial year. Funds were frozen by government.

CM was told that Rs 336 billion would cost government to undertake Flood Rehabilitation Emergency Projects. They include Rs 48 billion for Flood Control and Rehabilitation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure Projects, Rs 22 billion for Rehabilitation of major roads infrastructure, rehabilitation of water supply and Drainage System, Rs 9 billion for Rescue 1,122 Enhancing Response for Emergency Services, Rs 16. 90 billion Livestock Restoration Project, Rs 110 billion Housing Reconstruction Project, Rs 294 billion Sindh Human Capital Investment Project, and Rs 24.2 billion Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation project subsidy on agriculture Inputs. Murad said that farmers have lost their entire kharif crops.

Therefore, we have decided to provide wheat and oil seeds to growers for which he approved Rs 11 billion. World Bank has also pledged a $ 100 subsidy for agriculture inputs. He was told that stagnant flood/rainwater was being disposed of from cities, towns and agricultural lands located on right and left bank of River Indus through pumps and gravity where it existed. Lands would be cleared by end of this month so that rabi crop cultivation could be started.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 18 2022

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