By: Ramzan Chandio
KARACHI – As a practical step to empower women ahead of general elections, the Sindh Cabinet has increased the job quota for women from existing 5 percent to 25 percent in government departments and autonomous bodies in the province.
Sindh Cabinet, which met in the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah here at the CM Secretariat on Saturday, approved the proposal of the women development to enhance the women’s job quota to 25 percent with consensus vote of all cabinet members.
The cabinet members belonged from ruling PPP and its ally parties, MQM, PML-F, PML-Q, NPP and ANP, said Sindh information minister Shazia Marri during her briefing to the media persons at new Sindh secretariat.
“The cabinet members from all ally parties welcomed and appreciated the proposal of enhancing of women’s job quota from existing 5 percent to 25 percent, which is a step forward to the women empowerment in the province,” she quoted the members who deliberated in the meeting.
At present, the women’s job quota in federal government is fixed at 10 per cent and 5 per cent in the Sindh government departments, she said.
Marri declared that this increased 25 per cent job quota would be fixed and mandatory in the provincial government, other than merit, adding that other women while utilising their potential also can get the jobs in the government sector.
Elaborating the need of increased job quota for women, Sindh information minister said that there are mind set and environment exist in the society and departments, which creates hurdles in the way of women, while government’s step will discourage to this mindset.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and other cabinet members directed the departments to ensure the implementation on the women’s job quota of 25 per cent. Some members drew the attention of the Sindh chief minister towards non-implementation of existing 2 per cent job quota each for religious minorities and disabled persons and emphasized to ensure jobs fixed for them.
On the directives of the President Asif Ali Zardari, the Sindh cabinet also discussed the modalities of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which to be signed by the Sindh government with a Chinese firm, SEZ, during upcoming visit the President Zardari to the China.
The proposed Zulfiqarababd city in Thatta district would be replica of a Chinese coastal city of Shenzhen, which is a economic zone and port city, said Sindh information Minister, adding that Chinese firm will construct city and sea port.
After considering all aspects, the Sindh Cabinet approved the proposed MoU, which to be signed with Chinese firm next week as the President Zardari and Chinese President will also witness the signing ceremony.
The proprietorship of Zulfiqarabad project will be remained with Sindh government, while Chinese firm’s role would be as advisory, consultancy, investor and facilitator for the Zulfiqarabad project, said Sindh information minister.
However, after detail discussion, the Sindh cabinet also gave approval in principle for amendment in the Registration Act 1908 of Revenue Department, However, a two member committee comprising of the Sindh law minister from PPP and Syed Sardar Ahmed from MQM will make fine tuning of the amendment in the revenue act.
According to the proposed amendment, no non-testamentary document relating to immoveable property shall be accepted for registration unless it contains a description of such property sufficient to identity the same. The proposed amendment said that only rightful owner of the property executes the sale deeds as all the sub-registrars were directed by the Board of Revenue to obtain the latest certified copies of entries of record of right before registration of sale deeds.
The Sindh cabinet did not discussed the budget proposals in lengthen as only MQM submitted their budget proposals before the cabinet. According to Sindh Information Minister, the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah assured the MQM ministers of incorporating their budget proposals in the next budget of Sindh which to be presented on June 8.
