- Some ministries are devolved under the 18th Amendment: Sindh CM.
- It is proposed to exploit surplus electricity in industrial units.
- The Sindh government will launch a new energy policy soon, says Sindh Chief Minister.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that neither the federal government nor the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had approached him regarding concerns over the National Finance Commission (NFC) award or the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
CM Shah stated that the federal government has begun implementing the 18th Constitutional Amendment by delegating or liquidating some of its ministries.
The Prime Minister spoke to the media after attending the launch of the World Bank’s latest editions of South Asia Development Update (SADU) and Pakistan Development Update (PDU) October 2024 at a local hotel.
He stated that his administration has reservations about some other matters, and he is holding discussions with the federal government. He added that the PPP will only support measures that are in the interest of the country.
In response to a question, CM Murad said he learned from media reports that the federal government has terminated power purchase contracts with five independent power producers (IPPs), which is expected to lead to a reduction in electricity tariffs.
The Prime Minister called on the government to take steps to benefit from surplus electricity. He suggested that industrial units be provided with electricity at subsidized prices if they increase their production capacity by starting additional night shifts.
“This will help offset the energy fees paid by the federal government to independent power plants, improve production, and create job opportunities for unemployed workers,” he said.
World Bank report
Speaking at the launch of the World Bank’s versions of the SADU and PDU reports at a local hotel, the Prime Minister said the reports, which provide important insights into the economic challenges faced by Pakistan and the South Asian region, have been praised for providing a roadmap for sustainable growth.
CM Murad said the devastating floods of 2022, which submerged nearly 70% of the province, caused massive damage to infrastructure, exacerbating development problems already exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Despite these challenges, the Sindh government restored infrastructure and alleviated the economic difficulties faced by the province’s residents,” he added.
“We are committed to overcoming these obstacles, and the people of Sindh have shown their trust in the government to serve and uplift them,” he added.
Speaking about poverty alleviation, he said that his government responded to the results contained in the report, which confirmed an increase in poverty during the year 2023.
“The Sindh government has taken several steps to support the most vulnerable groups in society,” he said.
He added that the Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project was a major initiative aimed at providing housing to more than two million people whose homes were destroyed in the 2022 floods. “This project, which focuses on climate resilience, is expected to bring about social and economic changes in rural areas,” he said.
The Prime Minister, who holds the portfolio of Provincial Finance Minister, said that to combat inflation, the Sindh government has mobilized provincial administrations to regulate prices of essential commodities and work closely with federal authorities to manage the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Sensitive Price Index (SPI).
Citing the World Bank report, Murad said it also highlighted the country’s circular debt in the energy sector, a problem exacerbated by low electricity bill collection rates.
“The Sindh government, in collaboration with federal agencies, has intensified its efforts to reduce electricity theft and improve electricity recovery operations.”
The event was attended by provincial ministers including Dr Azra Fazal Pechoho, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Syed Sardar Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Advisor to Prime Minister Najmi Alam, Waqar Mehdi, provincial legislators, P&D chief Najmi Shah and various provincial secretaries. Departments.
The World Bank was represented by Chief Economist for South Asia, Franziska Lieselotte Ohensorg, and others.