SC stays Sindh govt's purchase of new helicopter

Published December 19, 2014
— Reuters/File
— Reuters/File

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday restrained the Sindh government from purchasing a new helicopter worth 1.6 billion rupees, DawnNews reported.

The provincial cabinet had on December 12 decided to purchase a $15.95 million helicopter from an Italian company for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to carry out relief work.

Following the decision, a petition was filed on Friday in the Supreme Court's Karachi registry by Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi saying the Sindh government already owned two helicopters and there was no rationale under which another one should be purchased.

The plea added children were dying in Thar, whereas the government was wasting away money on buying helicopters it did not appear to be in need of when it comes to dispensing its duties.

The court issued the stay order and also sought details of the purchase deal relating to the Rs 1.6 billion helicopter.

The government of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has been under continual criticism over conditions in the drought-hit district of Thar which has seen the deaths of 311 children under five years of age between December 2013 and November this year.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.