Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stated on Tuesday that Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had given him assurances that the Sindh government’s concerns regarding certain provisions of the National Finance Pact (NFP) would be taken into consideration.
During a media briefing at the Karachi Press Club, CM Murad Ali Shah mentioned that the Sindh government had agreed to the National Fiscal Pact as a prerequisite for finalizing the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility for Pakistan, as mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He confirmed that the Sindh government had conveyed its reservations about specific conditions of the pact in writing to the federal government, including concerns about the proposed abolition of agriculture support prices and equal agriculture income tax in the four provinces under the NFP.
CM Murad Ali Shah emphasized the importance of addressing food security in the country, without providing further details.
In response to a query, he expressed confidence that the NFP would not negatively impact the distribution of resources among provinces under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, and suggested that the funds allocated to provinces could potentially increase.
The chief minister also highlighted the electricity crisis in Karachi, advocating for the inclusion of the provincial government in the K-Electric board to represent the people of Karachi.
Additionally, he reiterated the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) commitment to establishing a constitutional court as part of its 2024 manifesto and emphasized that the judicial reforms proposed by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari were aligned with the vision of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
CM Murad Ali Shah addressed the opposition to the establishment of a constitutional court, emphasizing that the country’s economy had suffered during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and took time to recover.
Regarding law enforcement, the chief minister mentioned the investigation into the murder case of Dr. Shahnawaz Kunbhar, stating that the provincial police had offered to file an FIR if the victim’s heirs did not do so and had ordered psychological examinations for officials at sensitive locations.
He assured those present that the government would conduct a thorough inquiry into the case, emphasizing that it was the courts’ responsibility to punish the culprits.
CM Murad Ali Shah also affirmed Sindh’s unity and pledged to address the concerns of Karachi Press Club members during his visit.
Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani, Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Senator Waqar Mehdi, Information Secretary Nadeem Memon, and others accompanied the chief minister during his visit to the KPC, where he met with the KPC body and assured them of resolving club members’ issues.
