Sindh cabinet approves Rs177.5m to purchase vehicles for police

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while presiding over a provincial cabinet meeting on Saturday approved the allocation of Rs177.517 million for the purchase of operational vehicles to strengthen various wings of the provincial police.

The CM stated on the occasion that the police, with the support of other law enforcement agencies, had to expedite operations against street criminals in Karachi, dacoits in the riverine areas and drug mafias all over the province.

He added that President Asif Ali Zardari during a special meeting he chaired on law and order at the CM House had given clear instructions for the purpose.

The cabinet meeting was held at the CM House and attended by provincial ministers, advisers, chief secretary and other relevant officers.

The provincial home department informed the cabinet that the Sindh police, including the Central Police Office, Special Security Unit, Counter-Terrorism Department, Special Branch and Special Protection Unit, Safe Cities Authority and Sindh Forensic Science Laboratory had requested the government to procure vehicles for their operational requirements

The cabinet was told that the Sindh police had 405 discarded vehicles that had completed their operational age, therefore they may be provided with funds to purchase new vehicles.

After a discussion, the cabinet approved Rs177.514 million for the home department to purchase vehicles for operational purposes of various wings of the police.

Shah stated that his government had taken measures to strengthen the police force by providing them with better arms, ammunition, and salary packages, as well as mobilising them with vehicles.

He acknowledged the efforts of the police in restoring law and order in the city and the riverine area and expressed the hope that they would continue to do so in the future as well.

Transport dept

The cabinet was told that the caretaker cabinet had approved an amount of Rs597.756 million to continue with the subsidised fare of the Peoples Bus Service at Rs50 per passenger and released 50 per cent of the amount that was Rs289.878 million, whereas, the remaining 50 per cent of funds were withheld.

To maintain the existing fare of Rs50 of the Peoples Bus Service, the cabinet approved the release of the withheld amount of Rs289.878 million so that the subsided fare could be continued till June 30, 2024.

The cabinet also approved the release of Rs1.18 billion for clearing the remaining payment of 90 buses added to the fleet of the bus service. The buses were procured through the National Radio & Telecommunication Corporation.

Free textbooks

The Sindh school education department had sent a summary to the past caretaker cabinet to get additional funds of Rs1,011.142 million outside the budget to meet the shortfall of free textbooks till grade 10.

The caretaker cabinet approved additional funds of Rs.3.5 billion to ensure the availability of textbooks for the academic year 2024-25.

The CM was told that the regular budget allocation for the Sindh Textbook Board was Rs2,530 million, of which Rs1,265 million had been released.

It was pointed out that the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB) had not provided audit reports since the financial year 2020-21.

The cabinet decided to release Rs3.5 billion and directed the school education department to conduct an audit of the STBB and submit its report to the cabinet.