KARACHI: The Sindh government has approved to maintain the fare of People’s Bus service at Rs 50 till June in view of public interest including funds of crores of rupees to strengthen and mobilize the police in the province.
According to the statement issued by the Sindh Chief Minister’s office, the meeting of the Provincial Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was held at the Chief Minister’s House where provincial ministers, advisors, chief secretary and other relevant officers participated.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah approved Rs 177.517 million for the purchase of operational vehicles to strengthen and mobilize various wings of the police.
Murad Ali Shah said that the police, with the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies, will have to intensify operations against street criminals in Karachi, raw material robbers and drug mafias across the province.
He said that President of Pakistan Asif Zardari had given clear instructions for this purpose during the important meeting related to law and order in the Chief Minister House and I should restore law and order in any case.
The Home Department informed the Cabinet that Sindh Police, (CPO, SSU, CTD, Special Branch, SPU), Safe Cities Authority and Sindh Forensic Science Laboratory have procured vehicles for better fulfillment of operational objectives. Requested.
The Cabinet was informed that funds should be provided for purchase of 405 vehicles of Sindh Police which are now completely unserviceable and the Cabinet after deliberation directed the Home Department to purchase vehicles for operational purposes. 177.514 million approved.
Murad Ali Shah said that his government has provided the police force with better weapons, ammunition and salary packages as well as vehicles to make the force more stable and mobile.
He acknowledged the efforts of the police in restoring law and order in the city and Kacha area and expressed confidence that they would continue to show the same spirit in the future.
The Cabinet was informed that the Caretaker Cabinet had approved Rs.597.756 million to continue the People’s Bus Service as a subsidy at Rs.50 fare, of which 50% i.e. Rs.289.878 million has been released while the remaining 50% i.e. Rs.289.878 Millions of rupees are yet to be released.
The Provincial Cabinet approved the release of 50% of the withheld amount of Rs 289.878 million to maintain the current fare of Rs 50 for the People’s Bus Service so that the concessional fare can be continued till June 30, 2024.
The Cabinet also approved the release of Rs 1.18 billion to pay the dues of 90 more buses in the People’s Bus Service, which were purchased under the NRTC.
It was informed in the meeting that the caretaker government prepared an additional budget summary regarding the free supply of textbooks from Kindergarten to 10th standard to the School Education Department and also approved additional funds of 3.5 billion rupees for the purchase of books for the academic year 2024-25. was given
The Sindh Chief Minister was told that the regular budget of the Sindh Textbook Board is Rs 2530 million, out of which Rs 1,265 million have been released while the board has not even submitted audit reports from the financial year 2020-21.
The Cabinet decided to release Rs 3.5 billion and also directed the School Education Department to conduct an audit of STBB and submit a report to the Cabinet.
