Daily Times

KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet has resolved to strongly oppose the proposed privatisation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and Lakhra coal power plant.

The cabinet meeting, held on Monday under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, also paid tribute to Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and Asma Jahangir.

The chief minister said that the workers of PSM were starving for non-payment of their salaries. The federal government had deliberately turned the once profit-making organisation into a loss-making entity. “The same has been done with the PIA.”

“We are very much clear that the land of Pakistan Steel Mills would automatically return to provincial government if it is privatised,” he said and added the federal government would have to safeguard the interest of workers of PIA, PSM and Lakhra coal-fired power plant. The Sindh government would resist their privatisation,” he said.

The cabinet unanimously authorised the chief minister to give a clear message of the cabinet to the federal government.

The agenda of the cabinet include draft `The Sindh Police (transfer, Posting & Tenure) Rules 2017, draft law regarding Public Sector Universities of Sindh, Amendment in the Charter of Ziauddin University, Sindh Coal Authority Rules 2017, Sindh Nooriabad Gas Fired power project, revised amendment to Sindh Mining Concession Rules 2002, delegation of powers to determine the composition of Mines Committee, draft legislation regarding Sindh Ruet-e-Hilal Act 2017, Sindh Quran (Printing, Recording and Disposal of Damaged or Shaheed and Sacred Auraqs) Act 2018, Amendment in the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, The Sindh Tourism Development Corporation Employees (Services) Bye-Laws, 2017; The Sindh Employees Social Security (Amendment) Bill 2017, Regularization of Contract veterinary doctors under district-wise veterinary service programme.

The cabinet also discussed police rules in details and finally it decided to defer the matter since it was sub judice in the Supreme Court.

The cabinet also discussed the draft law regarding public sector universities and approved it. Under the new draft law, the appointment of vice chancellors, deans and pro-vice chancellors would be made by the chief minister and the governor being chancellor would confer honourary degrees. The appointment of registrars and examinations controller would be made by the syndicate on the recommendation of selection committee. The cabinet approved the draft law and decided to send it to the standing committee for higher education. The amendment to the charter of Ziauddin University was also approved. The cabinet also approved Rules of Sindh Coal Authority, 2017.

The cabinet was told that the Nooriabad Power Project was operating at its full capacity and it was supplying 100MW to the K-Electric. The cabinet after going through the presentation given by Energy Secretary Agha Wasif approved some amendments to Gas Supply Agreement of Sindh Nooriabad Power Company.

The cabinet also discussed revised amendment to the Sindh Mining Concession Rules, 2002 and approved it. The presentation to the cabinet was given by Mines and Minerals Secretary Shams Soomro. The cabinet was told that the Sindh Mining Concession Rules were framed in 2002, but there was a lack of clarity in the existing definition of the licensing authority. The licensing powers were given to secretary mines and mineral and the minister had been made an appellate authority. The cabinet approved the revised amendment.

While briefing the cabinet, Zakat, Usher and Religious Affairs Secretary Riaz Soomro said that in order to maintain unanimity the federal government had prepared a draft law. They have requested the provincial governments to pass a resolution thereby allowing the federal government to legislate on their behalf for Ruet-e-Hilal.

The other provincial assemblies have already passed such resolutions; therefore, the Sindh Assembly may also pass the same resolution. The cabinet approved the proposal and directed the Zakat and Religious Affairs Department to submit the resolution in the assembly.

Published in Daily Times, February 20^th 2018.