The Sindh Cabinet directed Local Government Minister NasirHussain Shah on Thursday to appoint interim local body administrators on being informed that the tenure of all local bodies in the province will end on August 29, 2020. The administrators will fulfill the duties of local councils till new local government elections are held, decided the provincial cabinet.The third tier of government will be further empowered to ensure improved local governance in the province, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. A committee comprising NasirHussain Shah, Works and Services Adviser Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, and Adviser on Law, Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development MurtazaWahab was also set-up to provide recommendations to improve the current provincial Local Government Act. The committee was tasked with providing recommendations within one month’s time, after consultation with other parties as well. Besides, the cabinet decided to form a seventh district in Karachi by breaking up the former larger districts. The new district in Keamari will comprise Site, Baldia, Mauripur, and Harbour areas. According to a statement issued on Thursday, district West currently comprises of seven sub-divisions, including Manghopir, Site, Baldia, Orangi, Mominabad, Harbour and Mauripur areas. Population wise district West is currently the largest area with a population of 3,914,757 people, according to the statement. CM Murad proposed breaking down the larger districts and carving out new districts, and the cabinet approved the formation of a new district Keamari. Some ministers also suggested breaking down Khairpur area in two areas as well. A name change for South district was also suggested during the cabinet meeting. The metropolis is currently divided into six districts – West, East, South, Central, Malir and Korangi – each with their respective administrative authorities. The cabinet also discussed wheat imports in Sindh, with the chief minister stating that the province requires 5.6 million metric tonnes (MMT) of wheat while 3.8 MMT was produced this year. According to this, it was noted that 2 MMT wheat was needed. It was estimated that procurement of one tonne wheat would cost over Rs3,000. The cabinet requested TCP to import 1.5 MMT wheat for the province, and directed the provincial food and finance secretaries to coordinate on the matter.
