Cabinet Committee has been constituted to resolve matters related to katchi abadis: Sharjeel

KARACHI, Nov 03 (APP): Sindh Senior Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said that the Sindh Cabinet has approved reducing the release price of government wheat from Rs5,000 to Rs4,500 per 40 kilograms, resulting in a reduction of Rs17 per kilogram in flour prices.
He said that the Cabinet had also approved the registration of Lady Dufferin Hospital Trust under the Sindh Trust Act 2020. In addition, ex-post facto approval was granted to a programme, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), for preparing an investment programme worth $1 billion for urban development in five divisional headquarters of Sindh. Under this programme, projects related to water supply, drainage, sanitation and solid waste management will be prepared.
The Cabinet also approved the Draft Rules 2026 for the registration and monitoring of charitable organisations under the Sindh Charities Registration and Regulation Act 2019.
Addressing a press conference after the Sindh Cabinet meeting in Karachi, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh Cabinet had approved additional funds amounting to Rs502.409 million for five development schemes in Jamshoro district.
These schemes also include funds for the water supply scheme in Sehwan city and the installation of RO plants. Similarly, the Cabinet approved a development scheme worth Rs2 billion, 99 crore, 34 lakh and 26 thousand for the improvement of the water supply and drainage system in Nawabshah Town, Shaheed Benazirabad district.
He said that a Cabinet Committee had been constituted to resolve matters related to katchi abadis (informal settlements).
The committee would formulate laws and proposals regarding the establishment of a one-window operation in this sector. The purpose of this initiative is to develop a coordinated mechanism for effectively resolving issues related to informal settlements.
Speaking about the construction of the Ghotki-Kandhkot Bridge, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that 75 per cent of the work on the bridge, being constructed over the Indus River under the Public-Private Partnership model, had been completed. He said that work on the project was progressing rapidly.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that strict measures were being taken to ensure the implementation of traffic laws. A Traffic Management Authority would be established to improve the traffic system in Karachi, and legislation for this purpose would soon be presented for approval.
A Smart Traffic Management System would also be introduced in the city to improve traffic flow and ensure effective monitoring of traffic violations.
He said that strict action would be taken without discrimination against those violating traffic laws. Action would also be taken against vehicles carrying fancy and illegal number plates, while strict legal measures would be taken against vehicles displaying firearms. Those displaying weapons while wearing plain clothes would be arrested immediately, and the owner of the concerned vehicle would also be taken into custody along with the armed guard.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that it was not appropriate to place the responsibility for every matter on the government alone; citizens must also realise their responsibility to obey the law. It is not possible for citizens to continue violating laws at their own will and then hold the government responsible for the consequences.
Driving cars or motorcycles by underage children is prohibited by law. Despite this, dangerous stunts such as one-wheeling are being performed even in the city’s posh areas. He said that citizens should be aware of the dangerous consequences of violating one-way traffic rules. Traffic laws already exist; the real need is to ensure their effective implementation.
He also appealed to the media to play an effective role in the public awareness campaign regarding compliance with traffic laws.
He said that the government’s foremost priority was to protect precious human lives and prevent traffic accidents; therefore, strict action would be ensured against those violating the law.
In response to a question regarding encroachments, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that societies function better when the public, along with the government, fulfils its responsibilities. The government does not want to affect anyone’s livelihood; however, no compromise can be made on the enforcement of law and the convenience of citizens. The removal of encroachments from the city’s roads would be ensured so that citizens do not face difficulties in commuting.
In response to another question, he said that any political party wishing to hold a public gathering must obtain formal permission and conduct its political activities in a peaceful and lawful manner. All political parties intending to organise public gatherings would first have to obtain permission from the relevant authorities. He made it clear that no political party would be allowed to hold a public gathering on Shahrah-e-Faisal. He said, “MQM should listen carefully, permission to hold a public gathering on Shahrah-e-Faisal will not be granted under any circumstances, and MQM will not be allowed to repeat incidents like May 12.”
Sharjeel Inam Memon said that all political parties enjoyed complete freedom to carry out their political activities within the framework of the Constitution and the law. However, no party could impose its decision on the government. We will not allow an atmosphere of confrontation and unrest to develop under any circumstances. He said that the Constitution and laws of the country were in place, and their supremacy must be upheld at all costs.
He said that the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Sindh Government had already made their position clear regarding the provinces. No law or decision could supersede the Sindh Assembly, and the elected provincial assembly of Sindh had already given its decision on this matter.
In response to a question regarding the Tharparkar ambulance incident, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh Government had announced financial assistance for the affected families. Following the incident, the government took immediate action and necessary measures to provide relief to the affected families.
Speaking about President Asif Ali Zardari’s visits to development projects in Sindh, he said that the President was visiting ongoing development projects across the province and reviewing their progress.
He informed that more than 100 electric buses would arrive in Sindh by the end of November, while double-decker buses would also reach Sindh soon. Construction work on the depot of the Red Line BRT project was also progressing rapidly.