Sindh forms committee to discuss LG laws with opposition

CARACHI:
The Sindh government on Wednesday announced the formation of a committee to discuss controversial local government laws with opposition parties in the province.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who a day earlier said the provincial government would accept the Supreme Court’s order delegating powers to local bodies under Article 140-A of the Constitution.
The committee will include the Minister for Local Government, the Minister for Labour, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister for Irrigation and a legal adviser.
A day earlier, the SC, while ruling on a petition filed by the MQM-P, said the Sindh government was required to establish empowered local governments and give them financial, administrative and political authority. under the Constitution.
The court also ruled that the provincial government could not initiate any new projects under the local agency system.
During today’s cabinet meeting, Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah briefed the cabinet on his discussions with opposition parties regarding the LG Act.
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He said the committee would review the law and send a summary to CM Murad. The Chief Provincial Executive said the terms of reference (TOR) for the committee would also be notified.
The forum decided to implement 100% of the points agreed by Nasir Shah with the opposition parties.
During today’s cabinet meeting it was also decided to declare Bundle Island as a protected forest area.
In addition, the provincial cabinet was informed that the 4000 MW Matiari-Lahore high voltage line is 878 km long. The commercial operation of this line, which was carried out within the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has also started.
With regard to the corrections department, the cabinet was informed that there were 2,113 vacancies (1,355 for the constable) from the 5th to the 15th year. The cabinet approved an open tender for recruitment.