Sindh govt sets up 108 Bachat bazaars, gives Rs462m subsidy, reveals CM Murad

Karachi (HRNW) Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government is giving Rs462 million subsidy on essential commodities such as Atta, sugar and ghee for which 108 bachat bazaars have been set up in all the five divisions of the province.

“This subsidy would continue till the end of the holy month of Ramadan and simultaneously the government is taking concrete measures to stabilise the prices in the market.”

This Murad Ali Shah said while addressing a press conference here at CM House on Monday. He was flanked by his cabinet members Saeed Ghani, Sharjeel Inam Memon and Murtaza Wahab.

Mr. Shah disclosed that his government has set up 108 bachat bazaars in all five Divisions of the province, including 34 in Karachi, 19 Hyderabad, eight Mirpurkhas, 10 Larkana, 17 Shaheed Benazirabad and 19 Sukkur. “Atta is being sold in all 108 Bachat Bazaars set up across the province at Rs 400/10KG while the market price is Rs 800/10KG,” he said and added that his government was incurring a subsidy of Rs 462 million on provision of Atta at subsidized rates at Bachat Bazaars.

Talking about sugar and Ghee, the CM said that at selected Bachat Bazaars sugar is being provided at Rs. 70-75/KG against a market price of Rs85 to 90 per KG. Similarly, Ghee is being sold at Rs 410/KG whereas its market price is Rs. 450/KG.

Replying to a question, Mr. Shah said that his government has no ample resources to subsidise food items the whole year. “Yes, we are working hard to stabilise the prices in the market,” he said.

Minimum wage: Talking about minimum wage, the chief minister said that on the advice of PPP leadership he had announced Rs25,000 minimum wage but the federal government of PTI had resisted the move. “To me Rs25,000 are not enough for a worker to feed his five-member family the whole month but even then, it was a little relief,” he said and added he was happy that new Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in his first speech on the floor of national assembly announced Rs25,000 minimum wage which was an endorsement of his government decision.

Mehar fire incident: Murad Ali Shah said that the unfortunate and painful incident of fire in village Faiz Chandio, Taluka Mehar, District Dadu claimed nine lives. “This was a tragic incident,” he said and added he has got the assessment of the damages which come to around Rs.33 million. “I had personally visited the unfortunate village and met with the affected family,” he said and added that he had announced a Rs500,000 compensation for lost life and Rs200,000 for an injured person.

Shah said that his government has so far paid Rs. 4.6 million to the affected families.

He added that the NDMA has also announced a compensation package of Rs.10 million, of which Rs. 7.5 million has been paid. Relief articles, including tents, ration has been provided to all the affected families and sufficient items are in hand at the site to recoup, he said.

Murad Ali Shah thanked the prime minister for giving Rs10 million compensation to the affected villages. Talking about the administrative action taken so far, the CM said that deputy commissioner Dadu has been transferred and Commissioner Hyderabad Division has been directed to explain his position while the District Health Officer (DHO) Dadu, Assistant Commissioner Mehar, Mukhtiarkar Mehar and Town Officer have been suspended.

Giving details of strategic actions, Mr. Shah said that directions have been given to all concerned to immediately put in place the Rescue 1122 System and implement its key components. He added that the Status of Fire Tenders across the province was being assessed and immediate measures would be taken for their operationalization.