Ease of Doing Business: Sindh government to develop e-network among land holding agencies

The Sindh government has decided to establish an e-network among all the land holding departments and agencies so that verification of land record could be made easily without bothering the investors. This decision was taken in a follow up meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the World Bank delegation led by its vice president EFI Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, here at the CM House on Saturday.

The World Bank delegation included Sayeid Shabih Ali Mohib, Mohammad Waheed and Amjad Bashir. The meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, P&D Chairperson Naheed Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi and Secretary Investment Ahsan Mangi.

The World Bank vice president and her team suggested that the provincial government to create more convenience and easiness for investors to obtain NOCs for launching their business. The investors should not go from one department to another for obtaining NOCs. The investors should only apply to investment department for launching a business for which the Investment department should get clearance from all the relevant departments and agencies to issue NOC.

The chief minister said that the delay in issuance of NOCs was due to multiple land holding departments and agencies. Therefore, the chief minister directed Investment Department to develop an e-networking system among all the land holding agencies so that the Investment Department could write them on its own for NOCs.

The chief minister also directed chief secretary to make reforms at sub-registrar level so that registration, transfer and mutation issues of properties could be digitalized and resolved within a day. The World Bank appreciated the chief minister for his personal interest in developing ease of doing business in Sindh. The portal launched by Sindh government at SBCA has produced good results but still the provincial government has to expand its networking further.

The World Bank assured the Sindh government for providing technical assistance in developing networking. The meeting also appreciated Sindh Revenue Board performance in tax collection. It has proved to be a most efficient, business friendly tax collecting agencies.

The meeting also appreciated the provincial government's move to develop an efficient social protection system under PPP manifesto it had announced in general elections. Under the manifesto women empowerment has been assured by advancing small loans for launching cottage industry, poverty alleviation programmes, food security, health programs etc.

The chief minister thanked the World Bank for supporting water sector projects of Sindh, including rehabilitation of Sukkur and Guddu barrages for improvement of rural economy and support for water board reforms programme.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019