KARACHI: Sindh Cabinet decided to set wheat procurement target at 900,000 tonnes. Meeting was held at CM House. CM Murad Ali Sha led meeting, was attended by provincial ministers-Sharjeel Memon, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Nasir Shah, Sardar Shah, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, Zia Lanjar, Muhammad Bux Mahar, Haji Ali Hassan Zardari, Zulfiqar Shah, Advisors- Babal Khan Bahyo, Ehsan Mazari, Najmi Alam, Advisors, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Advocate General, Prosecutor General and others.

Cabinet expressed its reservations about appointment of Chairman of Indus Rivers System Authority (IRSA), stating that it violates water accord. Cabinet believed that Chairman of IRSA should be selected from among members of provinces or federal government.

No one from outside could be appointed as chairman of IRSA and doing so would be clear violation of accord.

Minister Food Jam Khan Shoro told meeting stock of 400,000 tons of wheat is available with department. He suggested that department has 800,000 bags of bardana/bags, therefore wheat target may be fixed at 800,000.

Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput briefing Cabinet on initiative taken to control prices of edible items, particularly during holy month of Ramdhan said that district administration was conducting raids to control prices.

District administration from March 6, 2024, onwards conducted 1500 raids, registered 1,150 cases, sealed 14 shops and recovered Rs 7.14 million fine.

CM directed Cabinet members to start conducting surprise visits to markets to control prices.  “I want notified prices to be ensured in market,” CM said and added raids against hoarders must continue.

Minister Home Zia Lanjar and IG Police Riffat Mukhtar briefing Cabinet said that from January 1 to March 12, 2024, some 274 murders, 84 cases of kidnapping for ransom and 30 cases of extortion were reported in entire province.

CM said that crime rates vary month to month and night has come down, but impact of its reduction has not been felt by people of this city. He directed Home Minister to make SHOs and SSPs of area accountable.

It was pointed out that kidnapping cases have increased due to tribal feuds. CM directed Home Minister to involve few ministers, district administration and police to resolve tribal feuds at earliest. Minister for Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon said that work on Red Line project has been stopped which has not only caused serious problems for people of area but may cause price escalation.

CM directed Minister o to start speeding up work on project and remove bottlenecks, if any.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 14 2024

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