KARACHI: The Sindh government has opposed the proposed privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Steel Mills and Lakhra Coal Power Plant and decided to resist the moves.

This was resolved by the Sindh cabinet, which met here on Monday at New Sindh Secretariat with Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in the chair.

Another important item on the agenda pertained to the draft of the Sindh Police (Transfer, Posting & Tenure) Rules 2017 but as the matter was in the Supreme Court, it was deferred till the court decided the Sindh government’s appeal. However, the draft law regarding the public sector universities of Sindh was approved, empowering the chief minister to appoint vice chancellor, deans and pro-vice chancellor while the registrars and controller of examinations would be made by the syndicate on recommendation of the selection committee. The governor, being chancellor of the university, would only confer honorary degrees. The cabinet approved the draft law and decided to send it to the standing committee on higher education.

The other items on the agenda of the cabinet include amendment to the charter of Ziauddin University, Sindh Coal Authority Rules 2017, Sindh Nooriabad Gas Fired Power Project, revised amendment to Sindh Mining Concession Rules 2002, delegation of powers to determine the composition of mines committee, draft legislation regarding the Sindh Ruet-i-Hilal Act 2017, Sindh Quran (Printing, Recording and Disposal of Damaged or Shaheed and Sacred Auraqs) Act 2018, Amendment to the Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, the Sindh Tourism Development Corporation Employees (Services) Bye-Laws, 2017; the Sindh Employees Social Security (Amendment) Bill 2017, Regularisation of Contract Veterinary Doctors Under District-Wise Veterinary Service Programme.

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Taking up the privatisation issue, the chief minister said that the workers of Pakistan Steel Mills were starving because of non-payment of their salaries. The federal government deliberately turned the once profit-making organisation of PSM into a loss-making one. The same has been done with PIA. “We are very much clear that the land of Pakistan Steel Mills would automatically return to the provincial government if it is privatised,” he said and added that the federal government would have to safeguard the interest of the workers of PIA, Pakistan Steel and Lakhra Coal-fired Power Plant. The Sindh government would resist their privatisation, he added.

The cabinet unanimously authorised the chief minister to give a clear message of the cabinet to the federal government. The meeting also approved the amendment to the charter of Ziauddin University and the Rules of Sindh Coal Authority, 2017.

Nooriabad Power Project operating at full capacity

The cabinet was told that the Nooriabad Power Project was operating at its full capacity and it was supplying 100MW of electricity to K-Electric. The cabinet after going through the presentation given by Energy Secretary Agha Wasif approved some amendments to the Gas Supply Agreement of Sindh Nooriabad Power Company PVT Ltd. The amendments were purely technical. These amendments were made to meet the requirements of Ogra authorities.

The cabinet also discussed revised amendment to the Sindh Mining Concession Rules, 2002 and approved it. The presentation to the cabinet was given by Secretary for Mines and Minerals Shams Soomro.

The cabinet was told that the Sindh Mining Concession Rules were framed in 2002, but there was a lack of clarity in the existing definition of the licensing authority. The licensing powers were given to the secretary for mines and mineral and the minister was made appellate authority. The cabinet approved the revised amendment.

Secretary for Zakat, Ushr and Religious Affairs Riaz Soomro briefing the cabinet about legislation on Ruet-i-Hilal said that to maintain unanimity on all religious occasions nationwide and to regulate Ruet-i-Hilal arrangements the federal government had prepared a draft law. They had requested the provincial governments to pass a resolution thereby allowing the federal government to legislate on their behalf for Ruet-i-Hilal.

The other provincial assemblies have already passed such resolutions, therefore, the Sindh Assembly may also pass the same resolution. The cabinet approved the proposal and directed the Zakat and Religious Affairs Department to submit the resolution in the assembly.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2018