KARACHI: The provincial cabinet on Wednesday approved a substantial increase in the rate of compensation for the civilian victims of various acts of terrorism, bomb blasts, natural calamities, natural disasters and others.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CM House, was attended by all the provincial ministers, advisers, chief secretary and other officers.

The home department, on the directives of the chief minister, had held a meeting in March to discuss the proposal of revisiting the compensation rates to the civilian victims of various acts of terrorism, bomb blasts, natural calamities, natural disasters and others.

It submitted the proposal for enhancement of compensation in the meeting, which the cabinet approved after discussion.

The compensation for loss of life due to a terrorist act has been enhanced from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million.

Cases of kidnapping for ransom, extortion increased in province; Rs400m approved for new number plates

The rate of innocent victims of crossfire enhanced from Rs200,000 to Rs500,000.

The compensation amount for the victims of targeted killing is increased from Rs200,000 to Rs500,000. The rate of minor injured due to terrorist activities retained at Rs100,000 while the compensation for injured due to terrorist activities has been fixed at Rs200,000. The rate of permanent disability due to terrorist acts has also been enhanced from Rs200,000 to Rs400,000.

The compensation of loss of life of a breadwinner in case of natural calamities, disasters and other causes has been enhanced from Rs100,000 to Rs200,000 and rate of loss of life of non-breadwinner enhanced from Rs30,000 to Rs100,000.

The compensation rate for the families who suffer losses due to natural calamities, disasters and other causes such as full amount/compensation has been enhanced from Rs5,000 to Rs50,000. The 50 per cent of actual loss subject to maximum of Rs200,000 has been enhanced to Rs500,000. Rate of actual 50pc loss has been fixed at Rs50,000 to Rs100,000.

Cases of extortion, kidnapping on the rise

Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Mahar gave a presentation to the cabinet on law and order saying the incidents of terrorism had been controlled “completely”.

He said that 10 persons were killed in targeted killing in 2019, while only two persons were killed in 2020, adding that 944 murders were reported in 2019 and 786 in 2020.

The provincial police chief told the cabinet that 75 cases of extortion were reported in 2019 and 76 in 2020, while kidnapping for ransom cases were recorded at 28 in 2019 but increased to 106 in 2020.

He said that the reason behind increased number of kidnapping cases was due to the fact that dacoits first talked to the victims over phone and lured them by using women’s voice. This trend increased in rural areas and now it has been controlled to some extent, he said.

The cabinet was told that 3,966 proclaimed offenders and 7,934 absconders were arrested and 4,297 arms and ammunition were recovered between January and June 30 this year.

It was pointed out that the police also confiscated 448,350 litres of Iranian diesel and arrested 186 culprits involved in smuggling.

The IGP said that the police conducted 749 encounters, busted 537 gangs, arrested 8,112 street criminals and killed 21 street dacoits.

Addicts blamed for street crimes in Karachi

Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon told the cabinet that the reason for street crime was drug addicts living on the roads and streets. He said that street crimes had always come down whenever strict operations were launched.

The chief minister directed the IGP to strengthen the investigation branch and set up separate cadre, if necessary.

He also asked him to upgrade his 2G locators to 4G locators, and enhance the number of crime scene units from eight to 13 and establish a fingerprint mechanism.

He categorically said that he would take action against the police officers concerned from where a person was kidnapped.

He directed the IGP to inform his SHOs all over Sindh, particularly in Karachi, not to allow encroachments; otherwise he would take strict action against them.

Rs400m for new vehicles’ number plate

Keeping in view theft, misuse and abuse of vehicles, the CM approved Rs400 million to introduce security featured number plates in the province.

The excise and taxation department held a meeting with the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC), an entity of the ministry of defence, in this regard.

The NRTC said that the automatic number plates recognition (ANPR) was increasingly used by government, law enforcement agencies, safe city authorities and private sector operators to enhance policing on roads, identifying and monitoring criminal activities in counterterrorism.

The number plate has a template of ajrak and Mazar-i-Quaid.

The cabinet approved the proposal but asked the department to once again discuss its final feature in the subcommittee of the cabinet.

Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah said that Rs1 billion was approved as bridge financing to the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Ltd subject to the condition that these estimates be jointly signed by both consultants of the BRT Green Line and BRT Red Line.

The cabinet committee under Minister Imtiaz Sheikh had recommended bridge financing for the common corridor of BRT Red Line and Green Line for construction of a mezzanine floor.

The cabinet also approved the recommendation of the subcommittee.

Incentive for construction industry

Revenue Minister Makhdoom Mahboob told the cabinet that the federal government had announced a package for the construction sector. He said that the federal government requested all the provincial governments to club all provincial, municipal taxes, duties, fees, levies, charges on transfer/registration of urban properties under one head and charge them at the rate of 2pc of the valuation.

The cabinet approved the proposal and directed senior member of board of revenue to examine the status of all the taxes. He was asked the matter should be referred to the assembly if an amendment was required in the law, and if not, a notification should be issued.

Food Minister Hari Ram told the cabinet that action against hoarders had started and the chief minister would be given a report by Friday about the quantity of wheat seized within a two-day operation.

He also said that the police also started impounding trucks loaded with wheat.

The cabinet, keeping in view the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, approved insertion of a clause, 1-A in the Sindh Board of Technical Education Ordinance, 1970 and the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Ordinance, 1972.

The sub-section says: “The board shall have the power to grant certificates and diplomas to the candidates promoted without examinations due to outbreak of epidemic or pandemic or emergency declared by the government.”

The purpose of the insertion of the new clause in the ordinance is to award certificates to the students who have been promoted to the next class without taking their examination.

The cabinet approved an amendment in the NED University of Engineering Act for paving the way to induct one of the nominees of Husein Ebrahim Foundation as a member of the varsity’s syndicate.

The cabinet also approved an amendment in the Ziauddin University Act so that it could establish its campuses out of Pakistan. The amendment would be presented in the assembly.

Finance secretary Hassan Naqvi presented a report on federal transfers for the year 2018-19.

The cabinet was told that for 2018-19, the province of Sindh was transferred Rs304.3bn in the first half, and Rs310.069bn in the second half.

Civil award for Sister Ruth Lewis recommended

At the outset, the cabinet observed a one-minute silence to mourn the death of Sister Ruth Lewis.

The chief minister and the cabinet paid rich tribute to the departed soul and said her services for differently abled persons were unforgettable and would be written with golden words in history.

The cabinet recommended the federal government to confer a civil award on Sister Ruth.

The chief minister, just after the cabinet meeting, talked to President Arif Alvi on telephone and informed him about the recommendation of the provincial cabinet for giving a civil award to Sister Ruth Lewis.

The president appreciated the recommendation and assured the chief minister that the recommendation of the cabinet would be respected.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2020