KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon has announced several decisions taken during a provincial cabinet meeting, including development initiatives, urban infrastructure projects and measures to improve traffic management.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Sharjeel said the cabinet had approved a $1 billion urban development programme with the support of the Asian Development Bank. The initiative will cover five divisional headquarters across Sindh, focusing on water supply, drainage, sanitation and solid waste management.
The cabinet also approved the registration of the Lady Dufferin Hospital Trust under the Sindh Trust Act 2020. In addition, draft rules were approved for the registration and regulation of charitable organisations under the Sindh Charities Registration and Regulation Act 2019.
Funds Approved for Development Projects
Sharjeel said the cabinet had sanctioned an additional Rs502.409 million for five development schemes in Jamshoro district. These include a water supply project and the installation of reverse osmosis plants in Sehwan.
Another development scheme, worth Rs2.993 billion, was approved to improve water supply and drainage infrastructure in Nawabshah.
The cabinet also established a committee to resolve matters related to katchi abadis and prepare a legal framework for introducing a one-window operation to improve their administration.
Regarding infrastructure development, Sharjeel said construction of the Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge over the Indus River had reached 75 per cent completion under the public-private partnership model.
Traffic Management Authority to Be Established
Discussing Karachi’s growing traffic problems, the senior minister announced plans to establish a Traffic Management Authority to strengthen traffic regulation. He said legislation for the authority would soon be presented for approval.
A smart traffic management system will also be introduced to improve traffic movement and monitor violations.
Sharjeel warned that strict action would be taken against all traffic violators without discrimination. Vehicles displaying fancy or illegal number plates, as well as those carrying firearms, would face action.
He further said individuals openly carrying weapons while wearing plain clothes would be arrested. Vehicle owners travelling with armed guards would also face detention, he added.
The minister urged citizens to play their part in maintaining road safety, saying responsibility for traffic violations could not rest solely with the government.
He expressed concern over underage children driving vehicles and dangerous activities such as one-wheeling, including in affluent residential areas.
Sharjeel also asked media organisations to participate in public awareness campaigns, stressing that the government’s main objective was to save lives and prevent road accidents.
He said the government would remove encroachments from city roads but had no intention of taking away people’s sources of livelihood. However, he maintained that compliance with the law and public convenience would remain priorities.
No Permission for Political Gatherings on Sharea Faisal
Commenting on the MQM-P’s proposed rally, Sharjeel said political parties could organise public gatherings after obtaining approval from the relevant authorities and fulfilling legal requirements.
However, he made it clear that no permission would be granted for a political gathering on Sharea Faisal. He also cautioned MQM-P against attempting to repeat the events of May 12, saying the government would not permit a recurrence of the violence witnessed on that day.
He said political activities could take place within constitutional and legal boundaries, but no political party would be allowed to impose its decisions on the government or create an environment of confrontation and unrest.
Discussing the issue of new provinces, Sharjeel reiterated that the PPP and Sindh government had already clarified their position. He added that no law or decision could supersede the authority of the Sindh Assembly on the matter.
The senior minister also criticised MQM-P leaders Mustafa Kamal, Farooq Sattar and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, questioning their electoral standing and alleging that they had entered parliament through backdoor arrangements rather than securing direct public votes.
Government Assistance Announced for Tharparkar Incident
Responding to a question about the deadly ambulance incident in Tharparkar, Sharjeel said the provincial government had announced financial assistance for the affected families and taken immediate measures following the incident.
He also said President Asif Ali Zardari was visiting development projects across Sindh to assess their progress.
Over 100 Electric Buses Expected in Sindh by November End
Speaking about public transport initiatives, Sharjeel said more than 100 electric buses were expected to arrive in Sindh by the end of November. Double-decker buses were also expected to reach the province soon.
He further said construction of the depot for the Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project was progressing rapidly.
