In a pivotal cabinet meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, several progressive initiatives were approved, including the launch of the Hub Canal project using provincial resources and the allocation of 100 acres for an Inclusive City designed for Persons with Disabilities. The cabinet also endorsed the collection of property tax in cantonment board areas and the acquisition of 50 electric buses on a Rent Own Financial Model. Additionally, the Sindh Business One-Stop Shop (S-BOSS) was launched to streamline business registration processes, and a council for home workers in Sindh was formed.
The meeting, held at the CM House on Thursday, was attended by provincial ministers, advisors, the chief secretary, the chairman of Planning & Development, the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR), and other relevant officials. These initiatives mark significant strides towards urban development, environmental sustainability, and business facilitation in Sindh. The Sindh Chief Minister taking a policy decision in the interest of Karachi decided to rehabilitate Hum Canal through his government funding. Karachi has two major water supply sources – the Indus River through Keenjhar Lake providing about 570 million Gallons Daily (MGD) water and Hub Dam. Hub Canal built in 1982-84 has outlived its life and its capacity reduced from 100 MGD to 70 MGD for many reasons. Some of the large areas of Karachi, including but not limited to, Orangi, Baldia, Kemari, SITE and New Karachi, depended upon the water supply from Hub Canal.
The cabinet was told that an effort was made to undertake the Hub Canal Rehabilitation Project under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Rs75 billion in PPP mode, but the project could not move forward. The water board has submitted a proposal to rehabilitate the existing Hub Canal and construct a New Canal of 100 MGD parallel to the existing one. The proposal has a financial cost for constructing the New Canal and rehabilitating the existing Canal for Rs. 9.8 billion and Rs. 2.92 billion respectively. The cabinet approved the proposal and directed the water board to expedite the process and start the work.
The cabinet approved a plan to levy and collect property tax from the cantonment areas as per Supreme court decisions. The cabinet was informed that the Supreme Court had ruled that the provincial government would be responsible for imposing and collecting taxes on immovable property in the Cantonment areas. Currently, the Cantonment boards have been levying and collecting the property tax and entertainment duty.
Minister Local GovtSaeedGhani told the cabinet that the provincial government has devolved the collection of Property Tax from the Excise & Taxation department to the Local Government in July- 2022, He added that the levy and collection processes were still under the purview of the E&T dept with human and another resource, this procedure would continue for next three years. The cabinet policy decision approved the plan that the cantonment boards would keep levying and collecting Property Tax in their respective areas keep 2 per cent service charges and hand over the rest of the amount to the provincial government. Minister Transport SharjeelMemon told the cabinet that the National Energy Transport Corporation (NETC) has brought 50 buses which his department was plying on three routes. He said that TIP proposed a `Rent to Own financial Model’ for the supply, operation and maintenance of electric buses, along with EV charging, depot Infrastructure and alternative Energy production to the Sindh govt. The cabinet considered the proposal of provision of Rs 412.5 million during 2023-24 for six months (Jan – June 2024) monthly payments for 50 electric buses and subsequently Rs 825 million per annum allocation for seven years and Rs 412.5 million for last six months of contract period in Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) budget, which is inclusive of O&M & lease payments etc. and keeping all other items fixed, may be approved on G2G basis with NETC. The cabinet approved the proposal. After, seven years, the buses would automatically come under the ownership of the Sindh government. The cabinet members after discussions and deliberation approved the allotment of 100 acres of reclaimed land between Shaheed-e-Milat Expressway and Malir Expressway, DehDrigh, NaiMalir, Karachi to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD).
The CM said that to cater for all needs of inclusion, education, rehabilitation and vocational under one compound wall was required. Through the DEPD the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) would be made more productive to contribute their roles in every walk of life. He added that inclusive schools, a special education & Rehabilitation Complex, a Vocational Training general hospital, a neuropsychiatry ward, and an institute of Clinical Psychology and C-ARTS would be established.
