Minister for Finance and Co-operation, Sindh, Sardar Ahmed, has offered to the business community to take over Micro Finance Bank and run it on professional lines. Addressing members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday, he said, "It is not the job of government to run businesses and banks."
He said that Sindh government has a licence to establish 'micro finance bank' but it is not prepared to run it.
He said that Sindh government is ready to hand over the management with only 20 percent shares and will provide funds to operate and run the bank.
He said that permission to establish such bank was granted a year ago but it is still hanging in the air.
He said that the government could not run the bank. If it is established in government sector it may be misused.
The minister said that private sector is capable of taking over this bank, start giving small credits and loans and run it on professional lines.
Sardar informed the business community that the provincial government would be amending the Local Government Ordinance 2002 by the end of this month. He said that the proposed amendment in the ordinance is with Sindh Chief Minister and after his approval it would restore the rural and urban area distinction.
He said under the Ordinance, several areas of Karachi towns, which come under rural areas were declared urban areas. Through this amendment these areas would once again be declared as rural areas that would help control the hiking land prices around the city.
He said that under the proposed amendment in the Ordinance government land would be offered to hospitals, education and other amnesties at 40, to 60 percent concessional rates as compared to market rates.
The minister said that beside this the government would also provide land for establishing industrial units and housing projects on concessional rates.
However, he said that no concession would be given on commercial plots.
He said it was also proposed in the ordinance that the plots allotted on 30 years lease be granted 99 years lease.
Regarding stamp duty, he invited business community to hold a separate meeting with him on this issue so that the matter could be resolved amicably.
About property tax, he said that property tax comes under the jurisdiction of city government, which is competent authority to increase, decrease and collect property tax. Provincial government has nothing to do with property tax.
He clarified that the provincial government has provided funds for all the ongoing development in the city. All the development started during the tenure of City Nazim and Town Nazims are going as per schedule.
About National Finance Commission (NFC) award, he said that the Sindh government was making efforts to convince all other provinces to come to some conclusion. Sindh government is also pleading its point of view on the issue to convince other provinces on it. He hoped that NFC award would be announced shortly.
He said that he has asked the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to resolve the ownership issue of land in Maee Kolachi out of court.
He said that Sindh government can prove ownership of land but KPT can buy it on nominal price.
He hoped that Federal Minister for Communication would accept his proposal.
Regarding law and order, he said that the government is trying its best to control terrorism. The government had succeeded in this matter to some extent but still there was a long way to go.
He said that no government is against Islam. There are fanatics creating problems, he added.
Regarding street crimes he admitted that it was on the increase and it is out of control. He said that the government is now concentrating on street crime.
Sardar said that government hospices are authorised to directly purchase medicines according to their requirements. Old system of purchasing medicine through centralised pool had been abolished. This facility would be extended to district level shortly, he added.
Welcoming the guests, KCCI President Khalid Firoz proposed that excise and taxation departments of all four provinces along with customs department be linked with computer network to discourage registration of theft, hijacked vehicles in other provinces.
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