The Sindh cabinet, after thorough discussion and deliberations, has decided to launch a joint, well-planned, and decisive operation clean up against dacoits in Katcha areas of the province in which the police of Punjab and Balochistan, Rangers, and Pak Army would participate.
The meeting was presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here at CM House on Thursday. The cabinet authorized Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon to coordinate with his counterparts of Balochistan and Punjab so that an operation could be planned in the katcha areas for which an amount of Rs 2.79 billion was approved for the procurement of sophisticated Military-Grade Field and surveillance weapons. Sindh ministers, advisors, special assistants, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi, and other concerned secretaries and offers attended the meeting.
The home department and Inspector General of Police briefing the cabinet said that a joint operation in the katcha area of Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab has been planned as per government decision for which procurement of sophisticated field weapons and surveillance equipment would be required.
The IGP Sindh said that the matter for the purchase of Military Grade Weapons and Surveillance Systems was discussed in the 28th Provincial Apex Committee meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sindh on 5th January 2023. The meeting approved the proposal.
The IGP told the cabinet that the weapons and surveillance system was required to control hardened criminals/gangs, operating in the Katcha area of District Kashmore, Shikarpur, and Ghotki, equipped with sophisticated weapons.The cabinet was told that funds amounting to Rs 2,796.184 million were required for the procurement of sophisticated/military-grade weapons to start a joint operation in which the police of three provinces, Sindh, Balochistan, and Punjab would launch the operation with the support of Rangers and Pak Army.The cabinet approved the proposal of the operation and also sanctioned the amount of Rs 2.7 billion and directed the Home Department to seek NOC from the Ministry of Interior for the purchase of the said weapons.
The finance department told the cabinet that the government has already upgraded 3871 IT-related posts and still 3,264 posts from grade BPS-5 to BS-16 were left over. The computer operators/lab attendants, hardware, and other posts have been upgraded. The annual financial impact of the up-gradation of the 3,264 IT-related posts on pay amounts to Rs. 243.706/- million. The cabinet approved the up-gradation.
The provincial cabinet was told that the Coronavirus Emergency Fund was created on March 18, 2020, under the chief secretary with the secretary of finance, secretary of health, Dr Abdul Bari, Faisal Edhi, and Mushtaq Chhapra as its members. Right from the creation of the fund, 17 meetings were held. During the period from March 18, 2020, to March 3, 2023, Rs 3,312.93 million was donated from government entities, which includes Rs 1,300 million transferred from the Sindh Social Relief Fund, Rs 1,495 million, and Rs 517.19 million donated through salaries deductions of Sindh govt Employees. Further, Rs 254.701 million was also donated from private entities and individuals.
Foreign Donations received in CEF amount to Rs. 16.522 million including Rs. 16.268 million received through a Non-Profit Organization, M/s. I-Care Foundation, whereas Rs. 114.95 million was earned through profit on the saving account of CEF.
