Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that he would take up all the pending issues with the federal government in the forthcoming CCI meeting to be held in Islamabad.
He said this while presiding over a meeting to discuss CCI issues in a specially convened meeting at New Secretariat her on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Dr Sikander Mendhro, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Mumtaz Jakhrani, Syed Sardar Shah, Ghulam Qadir Malakani, Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, concerned secretaries and others.
It was pointed out that Karachi needed 1200 cusecs (650 MGD) additional water for domestic use. Therefore, the federal government in CCI meeting would be asked to allocate more water from the Indus River system.
The chief minister said that Karachi was the 7th largest metropolitan mega city in the world and has the highest urban growth rate in the world. He added that per capita domestic water consumption has dropped to 12.75 gallons per capita per day (g/c/d) whereas international standard is 40 g/c/d. Therefore, he would take up the issue in the CCI meeting.
The chief minister also developed a consensus in the meeting that he would take up the issues of 6th population & Housing Census in CCI meeting. He said that census could be conducted in Sindh by engaging Pakistan Army and Rangers.
It was pointed out in the meeting that two million Afghan nationals with additional 1.5 million aliens were present in Sindh. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to exclude them in the census. The chief minister assured the meeting that he would press the CCI meeting to decide the date for census.
The Population Welfare Department said that the federal government has reduced the allocation of funds.
The chief minister was told that ECNEC has approved PC-I of Population Welfare Programme, Sindh 2010-15 at a cost of Rs 13336.043 million. The CCI had decided that the federal government would continue funding till current NFC Award 2016 but funds have not been provided. The federal government released Rs 10412.067 against the Rs 13336.043 million PC-I which showed a shortfall of Rs 2923.471 million. The chief minister decided to take up the issue in the CCI meeting.
The Workers Department said that the provincial government has enacted Sindh Employees Old Age Benefit Act 2014 despite the fact the EOBI has not been devolved to Sindh government.
The health department said that the administrative control of some institutions like Pakistan Medical & Dental Conuncil, Pakistan Nursing Council, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan, National Council of Tib, National Council of Homeopathy, Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, Directorate of Central Health Establishment and Tobacco Control Cell have not been given to Sindh. The chief minister said that he would take up the issue but by the time clear legal advice may be given to him.
The Energy Department said that the federal government should stop collection of royalty on crude oil being residual subject. They suggested some amendments in the law for which they requested the chief minister to take up the issue in the CCI meeting.
