The Sindh cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved Rs 50 billion for the construction of damaged houses for flood-affected people. “Each and every owner of the damaged house would be given Rs 50,000 to start construction, and when the construction would reach the plinth level the remaining amount of Rs 250,000 would be transferred to his bank account to complete the construction,” the CM decided in consultation with the cabinet members. This was disclosed by Minister Information Sharjeel Inam Memon while addressing a press conference at Sindh Archives Building on Wednesday. It may be noted that the meeting was held at CM House and was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, and other concerned secretaries. Sharjeel Memon shared the decisions taken by the cabinet. CM Advisor on Agriculture Manzoor Wassan apprised the cabinet that 3.6 million acres of standing crops had been damaged in the recent floods and the farmers had suffered losses worth Rs 421 billion. Wassan said that it was agreed to begin with the provision of free wheat seed for which Rs. 13.5 billion were required. He added that the Sindh govt provided Rs. 8.39 billion while the federal govt was contributing Rs. 4.7 billion. Talking about the mechanism to reimburse the funds of Rs 5000 per acre, Wassan said that Taluka and district committees were formed. A Provincial Committee is established at DG, Agriculture Extension. The review meeting of flood response chaired by Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari a committee comprising the CM Advisor for Agriculture, Minister Information, and Minister for Local Govt was formed. The committee held a preliminary meeting on November 15 and was of the view that in order to expedite the processes, an additional layer of the committee may be incorporated at Tappa level where, Tapedars, Field Assistants of Agriculture, Members of District Council and Notables may be added who would help in data collection. The cabinet directed the agriculture dept to collect the data at the earliest so that funds could be provided to the growers. The cabinet approved Rs 50 billion for Sindh People’s Housing for Flood affectees (SPFH) to be used for Retrospective Financing for spending the amount on fully damaged houses for the time being so that project may start disbursement till the World Bank financing was available. The cabinet decided that the funds for the owner of a damaged house would be given Rs 50,000 for starting the construction. When the construction would attain the plinth level the remaining amount of Rs 250,000 would be disbursed. The cabinet decided to engage well-reputed NGOs so that the entire process could be made transparent. It may be noted that 1.7 million houses have been damaged by the flood and the construction of all the damaged houses would cost Rs 160 billion, of them the World Bank has pledged Rs 110 billion, and the remaining amount is being arranged by the provincial government from the federal government and through sources and donors. Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh presenting the village electrification agenda in the cabinet said that the Sindh government was continuously taking necessary measures for the electrification of villages under the Annual Development Program and the main criteria of the selection of villages for electrification include the villages having a population of 100 souls and above; the villages having a maximum of 4 Kms from existing 11 KV line and preference would be given to villages within half kilometer distance from HT line. The cabinet was told that HESCO has been given Rs 6609.161 million for the electrification of 10,890 villages of them HESCO has provided electricity to 5108 villages at a cost of Rs 5613.593 million, electrification work was in progress in 337 villages for Rs 754.204 million and electrification order for 5445 villages for Rs 6367.797 million were under feasibility stage.