Tag: sindh govt

  • Austerity? Sindh govt approves purchase of 138 double-cabin vehicles for Assistant Commissioners

    Austerity? Sindh govt approves purchase of 138 double-cabin vehicles for Assistant Commissioners

    The Sindh government on Wednesday approved the procurement of 138 luxurious double-cabin vehicles for its Assistant Commissioners as the country struggles to secure another IMF loan.

    The federal and provincial governments have made bold claims about reducing bloated government expenditures amid the so-called austerity drive.

    Around two billion rupees will be spent on the procurement of the vehicles, as Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved the summary before leaving for the United States on a week-long visit.

    Chief Minister House Spokesperson Rasheed Channa told Dawn that the government purchased the vehicles after 12 years, as the last procurement was made in 2012.

    “It is a necessary expenditure as vehicles are needed for official duties in the province, especially in rural areas,” the spokesperson explained.

    Provincial president of PTI, Haleem Adil Sheikh, strongly condemned the move, saying that hundreds of families are on the streets due to floods, but the Sindh government is taking “royal decisions.”

  • ‘It is not short-term relief but two months’: CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz

    ‘It is not short-term relief but two months’: CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz

    Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has strongly criticised Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah’s remarks against the Punjab government’s decision to raise electricity prices, calling it “foolish.”

    On Monday, while addressing a ceremony, Murad Ali Shah said that such “strange announcements” put them (Sindh govt) in a fix. “We (Sindh government) find it difficult how to respond to these foolish statements. But I don’t want to get into politics,” he added.

    Likewise, another Sindh minister, Saeed Ghani, also questioned the Punjab government’s policy, asking, “What will happen after two months of relief to the people of Punjab?”

    However, Maryam Nawaz expressed disbelief at the Sindh CM’s comments, remarking, “I laughed when I heard someone say it’s foolish to reduce electricity prices. Isn’t it foolish to pocket money from corruption and spend it on protocol, planes, helicopters, and convoys while denying relief to the public?”

    Last week, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif announced a relief package for the people of Punjab: Rs 14 per unit of electricity will be reduced for two months.

  • Sindh local govt elections turn into a bloody ground with two deaths

    Sindh local govt elections turn into a bloody ground with two deaths

    The first phase of Sindh local government in 14 districts has been completed. According to unofficial results, the provincial ruling party Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is ahead of all the parties with the highest number of winning candidates as 885 out of 946 representatives were already elected unopposed when the polling started.

    The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) came second, independents third, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) fourth, and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) secured the fifth position.

    According to media outlets, several complaints of missing ballot papers and changes in the election symbols were reported from many districts of the province, which eventually led to chaos.

    However, the provincial government ruled out such a possibility and described the demand as an “escape” from Opposition parties after they “failed” to field candidates in all districts, reports Dawn.

    Voting started at 9am and ended at 5pm on Sunday. The elections in the rest of the districts of Sindh will be held next month, i.e. July 24.

    Violence at the scene:

    During the election polling when clashes broke out between political parties, it led to deaths and multiple injuries. Two people, including the brother of a PTI candidate, were killed and at least 20 people were injured.

    PTI’s divisional president from Tando Adam, Mushtaq Junejo, said, “I can confirm the death of Qaiser, the brother of our party’s candidate Asghar Gandapur in Tando Adam.” The candidate was contesting in ward-13 of the Tando Adam municipal committee.

    In Nawabshah, the situation became tense when a group of armed people attacked social security. Later, the group fled the polling station along with the election material.

    Kashmore was among the most-affected districts in terms of violence.

    In Durrani Mahar, reports were received that around 10 polling staff members were kidnapped. However, the issue was resolved and police tried to cover up the issue as the polling staff was only released after successful negotiations between the police and the kidnappers.

    Misprinting of ballot papers:



    On Sunday, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that some districts had incorrect candidate names printed on the ballot papers. In a tweet, the ECP said that polls in these regions would be postponed and a new schedule would be presented for them.

  • Energy crisis: Sindh govt announces market closures by 9pm

    Energy crisis: Sindh govt announces market closures by 9pm

    The Sindh government announced that all markets, restaurants, marriage halls and hotels will be closed early in order to save electricity. The decision will remain in force from June 17 (today) to July 16.

    According to an official notification by the provincial Home Department, all markets, bazars, shops and malls will close by 9pm. Marriage and banquet halls will close by 10:30pm, while hotels, restaurants, coffee shops and cafes must shut by 11pm. However, the decision is not applicable to medical stores, pharmacies, hospitals, petrol pumps, CNG stations, bakeries and milk shops.

    The notification reads: “The urgent need to take the effective measures for the conservation of energy in Sindh through a two-pronged approach, i.e. to utilise the daylight hours for business activities and minimise the possible adverse impact of the business activities.”

    However, the All Pakistan Trade Union Association has rejected this decision of the provincial government, reports ARY News.

    Pakistan is facing a serious power crisis due to which the government has resorted to load-shedding all over the country.

    Last week, as part of the government’s ongoing measures to manage the energy crisis, the National Economic Council (NEC) agreed on the closure of markets by 8:30pm in all provinces.

    No power in commercial areas in the evening from 7-10pm

    The Power Division has decided to cut supply to commercial feeders from 7pm to 10pm daily across Pakistan, reports Geo News.

    In this regard, the Ministry of Energy has prepared a summary for the cabinet’s approval. According to the media outlet’s sources, the commercial feeders will not face load-shedding during the daytime, which would save approximately 5,000 MegaWatt (MW).

    Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that a huge amount of electricity can be saved if people start their businesses early in the morning and close by Maghrib prayers. He said that saving electricity means saving oil.