Sindh CM, fed finance minister discuss at-source deduction, gas price hikes. Murad, Aurangzeb agree to work together to strengthen economy

KARACHI (March 30): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Finance Mohammad Aurangzeb have agreed to collaborate in order to attract foreign investment and boost exports, thereby enhancing the financial stability of the province in general and of the country in particular.
This emerged in a meeting between the two here at CM House on Saturday. The meeting was attended by PSCM Agha Wasif, Additional Secretary Ministry of Finance Amjad Mahmood, and Provincial Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi.
The chief minister said the FBR and other federal entities were illegally implementing at-source deductions, contrary to established policy.
According to Mr Shah, the federal government has been deducting money from the provincial government’s head through at-source deduction. Recently, the federal government has deducted a total of Rs13.4 billion, out of which Rs8.2 billion was for Hesco and Rs5.2 billion was for SEPCO bills. The CM pointed out that his government has always paid its electricity bills on time, and if there were any outstanding bills that needed to be reconciled, the federal government should have brought the issue to their attention instead of making at-source deductions.
The CM also said that the FBR after reading a news item of the cars registered in Sindh from 1948 to 2015 had deducted Rs6 billion of the province at source. Despite the resolution of the issue still the amount has not been refunded.
The Federal Finance Minister told the chief minister that he was working to develop a proper professional working relationship between the federal and provincial organizations. “The federal and provincial organizations and institutions have to work together, learn from each other’s expertise, support each other for growth and cooperate for collective uplift and development,” he said.
Mohammad Aurangzeb assured the chief minister that the at-source deduction issue would be resolved amicably.
The CM and the federal finance minister also discussed the price escalation of industrial gas. The chief minister said that the industrialists were quite upset with the increase in industrial gas prices. The Federal finance minister said that during his meeting with the industrialists, they also complained to him. Therefore, they agreed to discuss the matter with the federal minister for petroleum to resolve the issue.
The chief minister said that in the federal PSDP, the provincial government has. Not been given any new scheme during the last eight years. Compared to Sindh the other provinces have been given new schemes in the federal PSDP. Mr Aurangzeb and Mr Shah agreed that the issue of PSDP’s new schemes would be discussed with the federal minister for planning & Development.
It was also agreed that the federal and provincial governments would work together to develop the agriculture sector on scientific and modern methods. It was pointed out that there was ample potential to cultivate export-quality crops, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products so that they could be exported to earn foreign exchange. The CM told the federal finance minister that he was working to introduce new technologies to improve crop yield and measures being taken to ensure the provision of certified seed in the market.
Discussing the reconstruction of flood-devastated infrastructure, the CM told the federal finance minister that houses, school buildings, and roads were being reconstructed. He said that the donor agencies have extended a helping hand in the reconstruction of flood-affected infrastructure, but the funds have not trickled down as was pledged by the international community.
The chief minister and the federal minister also agreed to attract foreign investment in different sectors for which investment procedures would be made simple and automated.
The federal finance minister appreciated the Sindh Chief minister’s efforts in establishing one of the best Public Private Partnership unit. He said that the provincial government has evolved an effective public-private partnership in Sindh and its fruits are being reaped by the public and the private partners. The CM thanked the federal minister for his visit and support.
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CM, Japan ambassador discuss progress of Rs8.5bn JICA projects

KARACHI (March 30): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in his meeting with Ambassador of Japan Mr WADA Mitsuhiro discussed the development projects launched with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Rs8500.5 million.
The meeting was attended by the Consul General of Japan Mr Tahara, and First Secretary Mr Fukuda while the chief minister was assisted by his Principal Secretary Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah and Secretary Investment Mureed Rahmoo.
Upgradation of schools: The chief minister said that the JICA project of upgradation of Girls Schools into Elementary Schools in rural areas has been launched for Rs2,287.24 million and was at the advanced stage. He added that the prequalification of the contractor and bids for construction and completion of works have been finalised.
It was pointed out that in the first phase, 11 elementary schools were being constructed, including seven in Khairpur district and four in Naushehroferoze. In the second phase construction of elementary schools in Sukkur, Larkana and Malir Karachi would be taken up. The main components of the project include civil works and procurement of furniture.
The Ambassador of Japan said that the project was most important, therefore it needed to be expedited.
Flood Response: Discussing the program for Flood Response Through Reconstruction of Education Facilities the CM said that the project has been initiated with the assistance of JICA in 9 districts- three in Mirpurkhas Division, two each in Nawabshah and Khairpur, one each in Sukkur and Ghotki.
The project has been launched for Rs1.566 billion, including Rs1.42 billion of JICA and Rs142.41 million of Sindh government share. Under the project primary school buildings badly damaged by the floods and heavy rains are being reconstructed. The damaged furniture would be replaced, and the school buildings would be solarised.
The CM told the Ambassador that the consultant agreement signed and verified by the JICA had been achieved, and work would be started shortly.
Maternal & Child Health: The Sindh government has launched the project of establishing a Maternal and Child Health Care Center at Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro for Rs4963.331 million, including Rs174.225 million Sindh government share.
The CM said that the objective was to extend/strengthen the medical services including neonatal/children hospital and MCH Center, LUH Jamshoro.
The centre would be provided with the equipment for the facilitation of the patients and to improve healthcare and reduce maternal & infant mortality in the Hyderabad division and adjacent areas.
Mr Shah said that the centre would also provide tertiary care level health services while improving OPD/ indoor, intensive care, operation theatre, general ward and emergency services for mothers, infants and neonates.
Chairman P&D Najam Shah told the meeting that as per JICA recommendation consultant has been hired and the construction work has been awarded.
The chief minister and the ambassador agreed to review the progress of these new projects every three months so that work on them could be completed well in time.
The CM thanked the ambassador and JICA for their support to the people of the province.