• Allocates Rs232.14m for holding exam afresh
• Students to appear in test without any fee
• Cabinet also okays establishment of environmental protection council in province
• Rs6.63bn to be released for reconstruction of eight Sindh roads

KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on Wednesday approved an amount of Rs232.14 million for holding the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) afresh in the province so that the candidates who appeared in the Sept 22 test can sit in the retake free of cost.

However, the cabinet did not set a date for the retake as it directed the provincial health department to guarantee the smooth conduct of the revised test by the IBA-Sukkur “within the next six weeks”.

Last month, the Sindh High Court had directed the provincial government to hold afresh the MDCAT within four weeks after a probe committee unanimously concluded that the entire test procedure was compromised. The court had also asked the Sindh government to meet all expenditures required to retake MDCAT and to hire the services of IBA Karachi/IBA Sukkur for the purpose.

The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CM House, directed the health department to establish vigilance committees in collaboration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) for the re-conduct of the test.

According to a press statement, the chief minister said that in accordance with the court order, the test would be based on the syllabus that had already been taught in the province and the validation from the previous year would not be considered for this year.

Additionally, the chief minister instructed the universities and boards secretary to ensure that examination boards announce results at least one month before the MDCAT in the future, as mandated by the court.

Sindh job portal

The cabinet approved the proposal of the Sindh Information Science and Technology Department to establish the Sindh Job Portal (SJP) in collaboration with Sukkur IBA University.

This centralised online platform is designed for provincial government’s job recruitment across the province, addressing inefficiencies in the current manual process. The SJP will provide a secure and user-friendly system for managing applications for positions ranging from grade 1 to 15.

The cabinet was told that the portal would feature automated application submissions, tracking capabilities, and real-time data analytics. It will also integrate seamlessly for applicants who have passed the Sindh Testing Service (STS) exams.

CM to head environmental protection council

The provincial cabinet approved the establishment of the Sindh Environmental Protection Council under the Sindh Environmental Protection Act of 2014. The council will consist of official and non-official members, totalling no more than 25, who will be appointed by the government for a term of three years.

The chief minister will serve as the chairperson or appoint another individual in that role, while the minister in charge of the Environment Protection Department will act as vice-chairperson.

The CM noted that the Sindh government has implemented the Sindh Climate Change Policy, 2022 and has prepared an Implementation Framework and Action Plan. He added that the Climate Change Department is in the process of upgrading the Directorate General of Climate Change by recruiting additional staff.

Funds for repair of roads washed away in rains

The CM approved Rs6.63 billion to reconstruct eight roads damaged by the recent floods and heavy rains. He allowed procurement for these projects on an emergency basis.

These roads include 9/1 to 3 km Johi to Chhini Road, five km Johi, Wahi Pandhi to Golo Faqir, nine km Baid to Mian Naseer Mohammad Kalhoro Road (district Dadu), 27 km Chamber to Mirwah via Snjhar Chang, 17.6 km Tando Allahyar, Tando Adam-Shahdadpur Road, Distt Sanghar, 51 km Jhirk Mulakatiar Road to Nooriabad via Jhimpir Flyover bridge, over three km Sujawal city Carriageway, and Sanghar Chotiyariyon Road to Chotiyarion Dam along with approaches road. The project cost is Rs1.25 billion.

The cabinet was informed that the health department had outsourced 13 health facilities — five in district Sujawal and eight in district Thatta — to the Medical Emergency Resilience Foundation (MERF) through a competitive process.

The contract, signed on March 19, 2015, was for five years, during which the administrative and financial control of the five health facilities in district Sujawal was transferred back to the health department from the private partner.

The cabinet was told that the eight facilities in Thatta would be handed over to the Liaquat University of Health Sciences (LUMHS) in Jamshoro, which had established its college in Thatta.

To facilitate the reestablishment of the LUMHS teaching hospital, the cabinet extended the contractual agreement with the current private partner for an additional six months, allowing time for the LUMHS to take over the facilities.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024