KARACHI : Sindh Cabinet which met here on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah decided to setup District Peace Committees in various districts and price committees in every district to control prices of essential items.

The Cabinet also decided to take strict action against vehicles with tinted glasses and fancy number plates and concerned authorities were directed to act without any discrimination and show no favours even to Ministers, Advisors, Parliament members, officials etc.

In order to resolve the issue of irrigation water shortage, it was decided to once again approach the centre.

It was the first Cabinet meeting after its expansion with the induction of MQM Ministers and Advisors besides new PPP Ministers and Advisors.

Briefing media about the Cabinet decisions, the Provincial Information Minister Shazia Marri informed that for establishment of District Peace Committees, a summary was sent by Home department and the Cabinet approved the idea.

Shazia informed that proposed committees will include Ministers and MPAs of concerned districts and other notables.

She said DCOs will act as Secretaries to these committees in which police officers could also be included. However, consultation will continue for final composition of these committees.

She pointed out that as from law and order point of view, the problems of urban areas have different and rural areas have different problems where dacoities, kidnappings and tribal feuds take place.

The proposed committees, Shazia said, would monitor law and order and keep the Home department posted off and on.

The Minister said that prior to LGO-2000, the then Deputy Commissioners used to form such committees as District Magistrates. But now District Magistrates do not have that role.

She said the basic idea is to establish the pre-2000 year system of committees.

Referring to soaring prices of items of daily use, she said, the Cabinet decided to setup District Price Control Committees which, besides public and community representatives, will have DCOs, EDOs (Revenue), DO (Revenue), DDOs (Revenue) and Mukhtiarkars.

Later these committees will also be formed at the lower level and then at the Provincial level.

She said public and community representatives have been included to control corruption. These committees will control prices and check supply of items of daily use and also ensure enforcement of Godown Ordinance, Consumer protection Ordinance and other related laws.

The proposal for the formation of such committees was given by newly reconstituted Bureau of Supply and Prices.

Shazia said that formation of committees will be finalized with the consultation of Agriculture and Food Ministers and other authorities.

She said the Cabinet decided that the vacant post of Director General Bureau of Supply and Prices would be filled soon while staff and other requirements of the department would also be met with.

Shazia Marri said the Cabinet considered the issue of irrigation water shortage which has affected the farmers of lower Sindh and it was decided to re-approach the federal government to sort out the issue.

In the meeting a proposal for increasing the discretionary funds of MPAs from Rs 5 to Rs 10 million also came under consideration.

The Cabinet agreed to the expansion and repair of Mazar of Abdullah Shah Ghazi and Chief Minister directed that he be sent a summary in this regard.

Replying to questions, Information Minister said that steps have been taken to control atta and wheat prices and their result will soon appear.

She said that notice is being taken of non-implementation of cabinet decision regarding termination of service of contract employees while payment of salaries to contract doctors would be considered.

She said that next years Sindh ADP will be higher than previous years development budget while Benazir Bhutto Internship Programme will also be implemented soon. APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2008

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