Sindh
Murad calls for coordinated efforts to provide relief to flood affectees
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has tasked various departments to ensure close liaison and work together so as to ensure provision of relief to the flood affected people of the province.
This he stated while presiding over a joint meeting of different departments at Chief Minister’s House on Thursday.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister Information Sharjeel Memon, Advisor for Agriculture Manzoor Wassan, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Advisor Rehabilitation Rasool Bux Chandio, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Secretary Livestock Tamiz Khero, Secretary, Secretary Works Imran Atta Soomro, Commander Engineering 5 Corps Brigadier Nayar, Commander Logistic Brigadier Anjum, Brigadier Inam attended the meeting.
While briefing, Secretary and Chief Engineer Irrigation briefing the chief minister said that the heaviest torrential rainfall in Balochistan generated huge quantum of flood water which travelled from Khuzdar, Bolan, Sibi and Dera Murad Jamali entered in Sindh via FP Bund and RBOD. Therefore, water level along FP Bund raised more than its design capacity. The heaviest rainfall inundated the Right Bank of River Indus and further raised the level of RBOD.
All the channels of irrigation and drainage were flowing beyond their maximum capacity and caused a number of breaches in drains and channels of the irrigation network. Most of the areas of Kambar, Shahdadkot, Qubo Saeed Khan, Warah, Nasirabad, Mehar, KN Shah and Johi are under water. Four breaches occurred in FP Bund and four in Suprio bund.
Manchhar Lake: The CM was told that Manchar attained level of RL 123.3 ft. on September 5, against ever maximum level of 121.65 during 2010 flood. A relief cut was made at RD-14 of Manchhar Containing Bund to save Sehwan City. Another relief cut has been made along RD-52 to reduce the water level in Manchhar. The water from these cuts is inundating Union Councils of District Jamshoro such as Bubak, Wahur, Arazi, Channa, Jaffarabad and their surroundings areas.
A breach has also occurred in M.N.V. Drain at RD-6. The water from this breach is flowing in the same pocket which is getting water from cuts in Manchhar Containing Bank.Main Nara Valley Drain (MNV): A huge quantity of water from MNV breach has quickly raised the water level very high along Indus Link Canal.
Water disposal: The chief minister directed departments to make necessary preparations and arrangements for evacuation of Kambar-Shahdadkot water through Shahdadkot Mian Drain, Mirokhan Main Drain and Ghar main drain system.
”Now, the River is receding, therefore efforts should be made to dispose of flood water from the towns and cities,” he said.
The chief minister said that the unprecedented rains have affected 10.48 million people in 23 districts of the province, the calamity has displaced 6.286 million people of whom 576,121 have been shifted to camps. “This is one of the great humanitarian crises, therefore we as a government and its agencies have to work together for the rescue and rehabilitation of the affected people,” he said. Shah said that Pak army, Navy and Air force and civil administration were carrying out rescuing and relief work but it had to be consolidated so that we could reach the maximum number of people. Mr Shah directed the health department to set up a network of medical camps in the affected areas and tent cities and provide free medical aid to the people living there and provide supplements, nutrients to pregnant women, children, and elderly people. The CM directed the Livestock department to set up camps to vaccinate cattle and arrange fodder for the cattle of the affected people. The CM directed health and livestock departments to prepare their work plan and share their day-to-day progress with him.
ISLAMABAD: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the President’s House Islamabad. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon gave a detailed briefing to President Asif Ali Zardari on several development projects in Sindh, specifically ongoing transport projects.
President Asif Ali Zardari ordered that all transport projects in Sindh be undertaken through modern technology.
President Asif Ali Zardari instructed to increase the numbers of Pink Taxi and Pink Scooty to provide special facilities to women.
President Asif Ali Zardari also said that women empowerment is our top priority, and these projects not only offer vital facilities but are also an important landmark in generating new job opportunities for women.
KARACHI: In a remarkable move, the 7th Agricultural Census 2024 – Integrated Digital Count was officially launched here on Wednesday.
The event, held in Karachi, was marked by the participation of key dignitaries, including Mr. Muhammad Ali Malkani, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Government of Sindh, and Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Planning and Development and Energy, Sindh and Dr. Naeem-uz-Zafar, Chief Statistician, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), whereas secretaries, director generals and other officers of different provincial departments also attended the launch.
Dr. Naeem-uz-Zafar, in his keynote address, emphasized the transformational nature of this census. “This is not just a data collection exercise; it is a foundation for evidence-based decision-making that will steer our agriculture sector towards sustainable growth. For the first time, we are adopting an integrated and fully digital approach, combining agricultural, livestock, and machinery censuses into a single, comprehensive operation,” he stated.
Highlighting the census’s objectives, Dr. Naeem-uz-Zafar added, “The 7th Agricultural Census will provide critical insights into Pakistan’s agrarian structure, crop patterns, livestock population, and mechanization trends. The use of advanced tools such as tablet-based data collection, GIS dashboards, and real-time monitoring ensures accuracy, reliability, and timeliness. This initiative aligns with international best practices and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines.”
He detailed the preparations, including the extensive training of 1,695 enumerators and supervisors across 30 venues in Sindh, to ensure the quality of data collection. He also underscored Sindh’s vital role in Pakistan’s agricultural economy, with its 8.2 million acres of cultivated land and major contributions to crops like cotton, rice, sugarcane, and wheat.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Ali Malkani, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, echoed these sentiments in his address. “This census is a historic step towards modernizing our agricultural practices and addressing the challenges of food security, climate resilience, and rural development. Sindh’s agriculture sector is the backbone of its economy, supporting 37 percent of our population. The insights gained from this census will empower policymakers to make informed decisions and drive sustainable progress,” he remarked.
The Minister also lauded the collaborative efforts between federal and provincial governments, academia, and relevant stakeholders in making this initiative a reality. “The data we collect will have far-reaching impacts, shaping policies that uplift farmers, enhance productivity, and strengthen food security,” he said.
The event also featured Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Planning and Development and Energy, who reiterated Sindh’s commitment to supporting innovative initiatives like the Integrated Digital Count. “Our government firmly believes in using technology to address the challenges faced by our agriculture sector. This census is a critical step in achieving that vision,” he stated.
The journalists present on the occasion asked questions from the dignitaries regarding the reasons of 16 years gap since the last agricultural census, and the validation, relevancy and efficacy of this census in the face of continual climate crisis. The field operations for the census will run from January 1 to February 10, 2025, with the final results expected by August 2025. This initiative reflects dedication and cooperation between the federal and provincial governments to leveraging technology for governance and ensuring the sustainable development of the agriculture sector.
KARACHI: With an aim to lower the financial burden on the provincial exchequer, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) started to pay private companies contracted for garbage disposal in the city in local currency instead of US dollars.
In this regard, Managing Director SSWMB Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah held a meeting with representatives of the private firms responsible for disposal of garbage in the city and apprised them of the decisions made by the steering committee of the Board.
The meeting deliberated upon the new plan of garbage disposal in the city before the expiry of the contracts made with private firms for solid waste management on district West, Malir, Keamari and East.
It was informed in the meeting that the negotiation with the contracting firms for payment in local currency had already been started.
The representatives of the private firms working in district Malir, West and Keamari informed the meeting that the verification of the staff and vehicles had been completed through a third party, while the verification was still going on in district East.
The managing-director directed the officials concerned to take steps to further improve efficiency in the new operational plan.
He asked the officials to make union committee-wise operational plan, containing complete details of daily waste volume, transport, machinery, staff and all resources to further improve the door-to-door waste collection services.
He also directed the private companies to pay the salaries of their respective staff on time. Mr Shah said that the operational plan should also include training of the staff, the strategy of separate collection of waste and date of people who picked garbage illegally.
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