Staff Reporter
Sindh Minister for Human Settlements and Special Development Ghulam Murtaza Baloch
has said that special measures are being taken to improve essential civic facilities to Katchi abadies
(slums) across SindhThe infrastructure development schemes were being executed in the slums in
Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Shaheed Benazirabad, N. Feroze and Karachi, said the Minister while presiding over
a meeting here in his office on Wednesday. Secretary Human Settlements and Special Development
Baqa Ullah Unar and other officers also attended the meeting. The participants of meeting were briefed
that provision of sewerage system, drains and other basic facilities were being improved in number of
unplanned settlements. The meeting was further informed that in lease money Rs 63.488 million were
recovered while the government grant was Rs 130 .Addressing the meeting Ghulam Murtaza Baloch
asked the officers concerned to improve revenue receipts and pay attention towards the issue.He said
that Sindh government was trying to improve infrastructure in Katchiabadies so that people might live a
better life. He assured them that the shortage of the staff would be meted out on priority basis and
other issues of staff would also be resolved. Last December, Mukesh Kumar Chawla had briefed the
newsmen while presiding over a meeting in his office that during current financial year from July to
November, Sindh Excise Department has collected Rs30988.291 millions in term of various taxes, while
in the same period during last fiscal year Rs30662.633 millions were collected. Secretary Excise and
Taxation & Narcotics Control Abdul Haleem Shaikh, Director General Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui and other
Directors also attended the meeting.While briefing the said meeting Director General ET & NC Shoaib
Ahmed Siddiqui had said that Rs2659.371 millions were collected in term of Motor vehicle tax,
Rs24227.851 millions were collected in Infrastructure Cess and Rs317.014 millions were recovered in
term of Professional Tax.Shoaib further stated that Rs115.620 millions in Cotton Fee, Rs1370.223
millions in Property Tax, Rs.31.819 in term of Entertainment Duty while remaining amount was collected
in term of various other taxes.
