Sindh Cabinet Enhances Remuneration Of Doctors

Sindh cabinet enhances remuneration of doctors

The Sindh Cabinet taking a difficult but historic decision has decided to bring the remuneration of the doctors of Sindh government at par with the doctors of the Punjab at an annual cost Rs5.6 billion

KARACHI (Pakistan Point News / NNI - 25th February, 2019) The Sindh Cabinet taking a difficult but historic decision has decided to bring the remuneration of the doctors of Sindh government at par with the doctors of the Punjab at an annual cost Rs5.6 billion.However, the cabinet also decided that there would be appropriate legislation under which enhancement of remuneration of doctors, teachers and other professionals with their performance and achievements.

The cabinet meeting was held here under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, all provincial ministers, advisors to chief minister, special assistants, Advocate General Sindh and other concerned officers.The health department presented an agenda item in the cabinet to provide existing remuneration being paid to the doctors of the Sindh government (BPS-17 to BPS-20), house job officers, and postgraduate students in line with existing remuneration of the government of Punjab.

The cabinet discussed the matter thoroughly and most of the cabinet members were of the view that the enhancement of salary package must be based on performance, punctuality and readiness to serve in hard areas wherever they services are required.The chief minister intervened and said that the decision to revise the remuneration of the doctors was quite difficult for him keeping in view the financial impact but "we want to meet this demand of the doctors on the hope that they would serve to their best abilities," he said.

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho and Secretary health briefed the cabinet about the proposal under which Rs10,000 per month would be given to postgraduate candidates in addition to their exiting remuneration.Rs15,000 per month would also be added in the exiting stipend. The health department would also revise the remuneration of all serving doctors from grade B-17 to grade B-20 and will bring them the remuneration at par with the remuneration of doctor serving in the Punjab, if the cabinet approves.

The cabinet approved the proposal under which monthly special health allowance of Rs10,000 to be given to doctors of Grade BPS-17 and grade 18 and Rs5,000 to the doctors of grade BPS-19 and 20.The health professional allowance has been enhanced from Rs23,851 to Rs28,472 for grade 17, from Rs15,956 to Rs19,175 for grade BPS-18, from Rs15,935 to Rs19,100 for grade BPS-19 and from Rs15,961 to Rs19,192 for grade PBS-20 doctors. Every doctor would get two allowance, professional and special health care allowances, therefore the total impact would come to Rs5.

6 billion.PPHI contract extended: The health department told the cabinet that the MoU between health department and Peoples Primary Health Initiative (PPHI) has expired on December 12, 2018. The PPHI was managing 1176 health facilities throughout Sindh with the support of Sindh government.The cabinet was told that the Chief Executive Officer of PPHI has initiated a request for renewal of MoU for another period of five years with effect from December 2018 to December 2023.

The cabinet approved the request and decided to conduct third party audit and sharing of the PPHI expenditures.N. Karachi Hospital funds approved: The Sindh Cabinet was told that North Karachi Children Hospital contracted out to Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI). When the administration of the hospital was handed over to PEI it was also given Rs439.82 million as first tranche with the condition that the next tranche would be released after receiving the audit report.

The auditors had raised some objections therefore further release of funds was stopped. Now, all the audit paras have been cleared, therefore the cabinet approved release of another tranche of funds.It was decided to revisit the agreement between the health department and the PEI and revise some clauses. Some cabinet members termed the performance of the PEI not upto the mark. Therefore, the private partner- PEI was urged to improve the performance.

The OPD of the hospital recorded over 27004 per month.KMDC upgraded to university: Minister Local Government Saeed Ghani told the cabinet that Mayor Karachi has put up a request that the transformation of Karachi medical & Dental Colege to a University has been a long standing issue.The KMDC was established in early 1990s with 50 seats for MBBS and 10 seats for BDS. Now there are 250 MBBS seats and 100 eats for BDS and total strength of the students 1650 students.

The KMDC has eight constituents teaching hspitals, including Abasi Shaheed, KIHD, Sobhraj and others and its bed strength has increased to 2500.The local government minister told the cabinet that the KMC council and other forums have also approved resolution for transformation of the KMDC as an independent university. The cabinet approved the proposal and referred the bill to a committee comprising local Government Minister, Minister Health, Minister education and Advisor to CM Murtaza Wahab to improve the draft and send it to the assembly.

Aror Varsity bill approved: The bill of Aror University of Art, Architecture, Design and Heritage Sukkur was passed by the Sindh Assembly and was sent to the Governor. The Sindh Governor returned the bill with the observation to ensure participation of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. The university & Boards Department again prepared the draft of the university and on the instructions of the chief minister placed it before the cabinet.

The cabinet again approved it and sent the bill to the assembly. A committee comprising Education Minister, Minister for Transport and Advisor to CM Murtaza Wahab was constituted to make necessary improvements in the draft and present it in the assembly.Safe house establishment: The Sindh Cabinet as per directives of the Sindh High Court approved establishment of Safe Houses for distress women for their immediate rescue, safety and shelter from threats or security concerns on temporary basis in each district.

The cabinet was told by the Social Welfare department that District Safe Houses have been constituted with DC as head of committee for running the safe House. The cabinet approved an amount of Rs5 million, including Rs3 million for manpower and Rs2 million for utilities.Occupation Safety & Health Council:The Sindh cabinet approved establishment of Occupational safety & health Council Sindh under Secretary Labour as chairman and five government representative (Indusries, SBCA, health, EPA and Fire dept); four members to represent employees and four representatives to represent workers, four professionals, three from civil society and officer from Directorate of labour.

The council shall perform the functions as follows: Advice the government on all matters relating to the objects of the act which government may refer to the council; and review legislation relating to occupational safety and health. The council may make recommendations with regard to formulation and implementation of provincial policies and strategies relating to occupational safety and health. The actions to facilitate cooperation between the government, employers, workers and any other persons or organizations engaged in occupational activities et.

The cabinet approved the council.Restoration of city to old plan: The cabinet discussed the Supreme Court Order regarding restoration of past glory of Karachi by restoration of original approved Master Plan. Under the court orders the establishments/ encroachments carried out over converted plots from residential, Park, playgrounds, hospitals to commercial purpose are to be demolished.The meeting was told that there 924 residential plots were converted into commercial between 204 to 2019.

The KMC has demolished or sealed 142 buildings so far. The cabinet constituted a cabinet committee comprising Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Education and Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah and Minister for Transport Awais Qadir Shah to review the status of the establishments developed on converted plots and give recommendations to the cabinet within next 30 days.NESPAK to Review K-IV Design: The Sindh cabinet was told that work on K-IV project meant to provide 260 MGD of water to Karachi in the first phase has been awarded to FWO for Rs25.

55 billion. The Federal government is sharing 50 percent cost while the remaining 50 percent is being borne by the Sindh government.Due to addition of supplementary works such as 50 MW power plant, augmentation and ancillary works as well as changes in routes etc it was felt to review the design. The cabinet was proposed to procure M/s NESPAK for third party thorough design review of the project. The cabinet approved the request and relaxed the SPPRA rules to avoid further delay.

NESPAK to validate Pre-treatment system: Secretary irrigation Jamal Shah told the cabinet that the development of Thar Coal Block-II for establishment of power plant has been entrusted to SECMC. To meet the requirement of 35 cusecs of water RO Plant has been installed at Nabisar.The LBOD scheme among the key projects taken by the government under infrastructure development initiative for Thar region and is a life line to the power projects being developed for power plants on Thar coal.

The scheme was involved to provide pre-treatment facility to the water in put for the RO plant installed as output quality of the water the RO plant was not desirable for power plant,. The subject scheme was accordingly framed for Rs3.2 billion to treat LBOD raw water. The design treatment process proposed in the scheme was based on the Conventional Activated Sludge (CAS) followed by ultra filtration (UF) Membrane System.The Irrigation department submitted for procurement of M/s NESPAK for third party validation for technical and financial cost of construction of Pre-treatment system for RO Plant LBOD water at Nabisar for Thar Coal Block-II project.

The cabinet approved the procurement of NESPAK for the purpose.Reduction in passing marks: The Sindh cabinet approved reduction in passing marks from 60 percent to 50 percent for recruitment of Junior Elementary school Teacher (JEST) of BPS-14 and Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) BPS-15.Minister Education Syed Sardar Shah and Secretary School Education Qazi Shahid Parvez told the cabinet that the department had started process for recruitment of 6000 JEST and ECT teachers through IBA.

For qualification of the test 60 percent marks were required. The result was quite frustrating because only 1962 candidates could qualify the test and 1519 candidates could be appointed.The cabinet approved the reduction in the marks with heavy heart saying that the government has to improve educational standard. It was also decided to impart most professional trainings to the teachers.Amendment in Land Revenue Act: On the recommendation of NAB Prevention Committee constituted by the Chairman NAB to improve working of Revenue departments some amendemnts were approved.

Under the amendment Section 52 of Land Revenue Act, 1967 was made. Another amendment in Section 3, Section 2 ( c) of the Sindh Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was also approved.The cabinet also authorized the chief minister to nominate the members of Syndicates of the universities and board of governors where required. The cabinet approved constitution of Board of Trustees of Sindh EOBI. The chief minister would appoint Board of Governors for cadet College Khairpur. The cabinet nominated Commissioners of Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions as official members of Governing body of Sindh Katchi Abadis Authority. NNI