Sindh chief minister inducts four more ministers to cabinet
KARACHI: The Sindh government expanded its cabinet on Monday by inducting four more ministers. With the latest additions, the cabinet size has now reached 18 (16 ministers and two advisors). The ministers who took oath include Taimur Talpur, Syed Awais Shah, Murtaza Baloch and Abdul Bari Pitafi. Sindh Governor Imran Ismail administered oath to the new ministers at a ceremony held at the Governor House.
The newly-appointed minister, Taimur Talpur, is the son of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MNA Nawab Yousuf Talpur and has won the provincial assembly seat from Umerkot district.
son-in law of PPP stalwart Khursheed Shah and has won the seat from Sukkur, Murtaza Baloch was elected from Malir district in Karachi and Abdul Bari Pitafi, the son of PPP senior leader Sardar Ahmed Ali Pitafi (late), won the seat from Ghotki district.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Sindh PPP President Nisar Khuhro, provincial ministers MPAs, MNAs, bureaucrats and notable personalities.
According to a notification released by the Sindh government, Taimur Talpur has been assigned the portfolio of Information, Science and Technology as well as Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development. Meanwhile, Syed Awais Shah has been given Transport and Mass Transit, Murtaza Baloch will look after Labour and Human Resources and Abdul Bari Pitafi the Livestock and Fisheries departments.
Meanwhile, Nasir Hussain Shah, who previously held the portfolio of Works and Services, will now also look after the Prisons and Religious Affairs. Minorities Affairs Minister Hari Ram has also been given the additional portfolio of Food, while Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla will also look after the Parliamentary Affairs. Faraz Dero will look after the Auqaf, Zakat and Usher department. Muhammad Bux Mahar has also been assigned the additional portfolio of Sports and Youth Affairs.
The notification added that the CM has appointed six special assistants to the Sindh chief minister – Waqar Mehdi, Rashid Rabbani, Ashfaq Memon, Qasim Naveed, Nawab Wassan and Dr Khatoomal.
In the first phase, soon after taking oath of his office in August this year, Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah had inducted eight ministers to his cabinet. Later, four more ministers were appointed in September along with two advisers.
CM urges national data of criminals
Sindh CM said that around 2,200 policemen and a large number of Rangers personnel had sacrificed their lives to restore peace in Karachi and we owe a word of thanks to them and their families.
This he said while talking to State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi at the CM House. The meeting was attended by Inspector-General Kaleem Imam, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir and Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro. CM Shah said that the elections were held in the city in a peaceful manner. “This is because of the restored law and order, otherwise it was not possible,” he said.
He urged the state minister to establish a data bank of crime and criminals at the national level with access to the provincial government so that necessary action could be taken accordingly. “We had taken this decision in the apex committee meeting during the last tenure but it could not be implemented and now it is the need of the hour,” he said. He also urged the state minister to issue necessary directives to NADRA to cooperate with the Sindh police in identification issues of the accused in crime cases.
The state minister assured the chief minister of full support and cooperation in every sector, particularly on law and order issues.
Reforms in civil service structure
CM Shah said that he was committed to introduce reforms in provincial government, civil service and every government servant would be given an opportunity for upward mobility (promotions).
This he said on Monday while talking to Prime Minister’s Adviser for Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain at the CM House.
He said that there was a dire need to introduce reforms in the civil bureaucracy’s old structure. “We would frame some reforms and share them with you,” he told the advisor. CM Shah said that every employee who joins government service must have proper service structure so that he could work hard for his future. “Service structure would also be made for every cadre of provincial service,” he said. Dr Hussain, who is also an ex-bureaucrat, said that the structure of bureaucracy was old and now it needs to be improved. The chief minister said that he would form a committee to suggest reforms and they would be shared with the federal government.
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