A meeting of the provincial cabinet chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan has approved the conversion of Quetta Safe City Project Phase I into Quetta Smart City Phase II, which will be Pakistan’s first smart city project and as a digital Quetta. The Cabinet also approved to exempt Safe City Project Phase-I from the B-PAPRA rules in the light of the recommendation of the Board of Balochistan Public Procurement Regulatory Authority. The cabinet also approved the upgrade of 219 teachers of schools under the Mines Labor Welfare Organization under the Department of Minerals, which aims to empower the civil administration to deal with public affairs. On the occasion, the Secretary Minerals directed to standardize these 29 schools on model basis within six months. The Cabinet also approved the by-laws of B-WASA and asked WASA authorities to introduce separate by-laws for drainage system under WASA. Directed by, Abina agreed to make the installation of tube wells in Quetta city conditional on WASA’s NOC. The Chief Minister directed that all the agencies responsible for the improvement of water supply and drainage system and development of the city should come up with a joint strategy. In this regard, he directed to convene a meeting of the concerned agencies. The Cabinet also approved an amendment to the Balochistan Government Rules of Business 2012 to separate Excise and Taxation from the Board of Revenue and give it the status of an administrative department. Approves two-year extension, one-time exemption from sales tax on banks’ commission on Ehsas Emergency Cash Transfer, exemption from sales tax on fundraising by telecom operators in PM Relief Fund and UN World Food Program Approves exemption of food supplied to Afghanistan through Chaman from Balochistan Infrastructure Development Cess on humanitarian grounds. Cabinet extends FC Balochistan’s relocation period till December 31, 2020 for internal security. The Cabinet also approved to upgrade the post of Assistant Director (Statistics) B-17 of the Department of Agriculture to the post of Deputy Director Agriculture (Statistics) B-18 on the recommendation of the Upgradation Committee. The Cabinet also approved the recruitment of B-16 staff nurses on ad hoc basis in hospitals. I also approved the correction of the names of the districts and the correction of the nomenclature of some projects included in the PSDP of the Education Department. The Cabinet also approved the recruitment of vacancies in the Local Government Department through the Departmental Recruitment Committee. Mutab of energy from The Cabinet also approved the extension of the period of expressions of interest issued for investment projects for the development of heart resources. It was decided to form a sub-committee which would review the draft ordinance and submit a report. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that the cabinet is the most important and largest forum in the province in which important policy decisions are taken. In this context, we are responsible for the good and bad of the province. If we want to do good with Balochistan, then we have to improve our system and procedures and put the interests of the province and its people first. The Chief Minister said that in the last few years there has been an increase in the number of universities and university campuses in the province which is providing better educational opportunities to the youth and increasing the number of educated youth. Plan for a better future and nine there is a need to promote merit and ability in the careers so that deserving youth can get their due.
Cabinet approved the Balochistan Access to Information Amendment Act 2018 under the Sustainable Development Goals, which will replace the Access to Information Act 2005. The Act has been made more comprehensive and effective. The Amendment Act, 2018 will be tabled in the Assembly for final approval. Will go
Cabinet approved the Balochistan Government Employees Benevolent Fund Distribution Rules 2020, aimed at protecting the interests of provincial government employees, under the Benevolent Fund Act 2018. Under 12, lump sum payment of Benevolent Fund, deduction of Benevolent Fund from the basic salary of the employees on the basis of grade and prompt payment of Benevolent Fund to the employee on the occasion of retirement is to be ensured. Enforcement has been a long-standing demand of the employees, which was approved by the provincial cabinet today.