The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has asked the Federal Law Minister or concerned ministers, who are formulating value-added tax bill, must consult with the provinces to avoid any misunderstanding about the taxes incorporated in this bill.
He said this while talking with Journalists after inaugural ceremony of Women Support Programme, Benazir Card and cheques distribution ceremony held at Hyderabad Club this evening. Responding to a question he said that at present value-added tax bill is being prepared by Federal government and we want the provinces should be taken on board in this regard.
He said that consensus for the approval of new NFC award on the basis of multiple criteria was a big achievement of PPP government. He added that there are many formalities, which have been fulfilled and shortly it would be presented to the President of Pakistan for his endorsement.
The CM expressed his optimism that it would be come into force shortly. While replying a question about the fate of local council system, the CM said that when we dissolved last local councils, we negotiated with our coalition partners and decided that neither 1981 law nor 2001 law of local councils would be implemented in future as both represented the dictatorial rule.
But new law 2010 would be introduced according to aspiration of common man. He said that at present the negotiations with our coalition partners are in progress. He said that ANP and functional leagues desire for implementation on 1981 law with little changes whereas the opinion of MQM is different.
However, he made it clear that the government would be able to introduce new law before the elections, as suggestions/proposals from all coalition partners are being examined and evaluated actively and finally a system would be introduced keeping in view the ground realities.
About the future of NPIW programme employees, the Sindh Chief Minister said that though these employees were appointed on contract basis for 3 years and it was the subject of Federal Government but he has recommended Federal government for regularising them, as Sindh government cannot afford the financial burden of these employees. About irregularities in Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), the Chief Minister Sindh said that it is Federal Government programme and Prime Minister of Pakistan has taken serious notice of this alleged practice and constituted special team to investigate into matter.
He said that law and order situation in Sindh is satisfactory and the investigation into Dadu blast and other incidents is in progress. Earlier, addressing the cheques distribution ceremony of Women Support Programme initiated by Sindh government, the Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that PPP believes in empowerment of women as such many women welfare programmes have been launched within the shortest period of this government.
He said that the issuance of Benazir Card is to provide income opportunities to the poor women. Under this programme 0.5 million women would be selected and they would be provided Benazir Card till June 2010.
He said that Rs 6 billion have been earmarked for this scheme and selected poor women, who would get quarterly instalment of Rs 3000 regularly. He said that out of 50,000 acres of government land, 45,000 acres of land have been provided to landless women farmers.
He said that the PPP government has also launched other programmes of employment for youths, which include Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Youth Development Programme (SBBYDP) under which we are providing technical training to 75,000 youths this year, while training to 45,000 youths in different trades and skills has already been completed last year in first phase of this programme. Besides, his government is giving priority to provide health and qualitative educational facilities to the people.
He said that at present 40,000 patients of Hepatitis B + C are getting free treatment from the government facilities and each patient being treated at a cost of Rs 80,000 to 0.1 million. Similarly, "We are planning to establish trauma centres with latest facilities at each important place to minimise the accidental causalities." He said that we are planning to provide Helicopters to the trauma centre at Hyderabad.
The Sindh Minister for Social Welfare Nargis ND Khan, the Chairperson of Women Support Programme in her speech said that all efforts have been made to ensure transparent distribution of amount under this programme. She said that empowerment of women was the motive of PPP government which must be followed at all cost. The Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgri, MPA Farheen Mughal and Vice President PPP Sindh Ladies Wing Parveen Qaimkhani also spoke on this occasion. Later, the Sindh Chief Minister distributed the cheques among the beneficiaries.
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