Govt treasury bills: Investment of provincial disaster relief funds approved

KARACHI: Sindh’s disaster management authorities on Monday approved the investment of provincial disaster relief funds in government treasury bills.

‎ Emergency preparedness, financial oversight and institutional reforms to strengthen disaster response were reviewed at 24th meeting of the Board of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA).

‎Chaired by Sindh Adviser to the Chief Minister for Rehabilitation Gyan Chand Essarani, the board approved a proposal to open a Portfolio Investment Account with Sindh Bank for investing the Provincial Disaster Management Fund in Market Treasury Bills to generate returns for disaster preparedness and response activities.

‎The meeting also reviewed the procurement of relief machinery and equipment, the post-monsoon situation, salaries of contractual employees, the Beneficiary Information Management System , expenditures for the 2025-26 fiscal year, the Schedule of New Expenditure for 2026-27, Annual Development Programme schemes and third-party audit arrangements.

‎‎Board members unanimously confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting and assessed progress on earlier decisions.

‎The board discussed the extension of contracts for GIS specialists and data entry operators, protection of employees’ salaries, vacant posts and service-related matters.

‎Officials were directed to continue pursuing clarification from the Finance Department and present a progress report at the next meeting.

‎A detailed briefing on the post-monsoon situation and the Beneficiary Information Management System was presented, following which the board directed officials to maintain a comprehensive digital record of relief requirements, distribution of assistance, stock positions and beneficiaries to improve transparency, accountability and monitoring.

‎The meeting also reviewed expenditures under the Relief Fund, Combat Disaster Fund and development projects, while considering proposals for new posts, internal audit positions and development schemes for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

‎Addressing the meeting, Essarani said the PDMA must further strengthen its capacity as a proactive, accountable and modern institution capable of responding effectively to emergencies.

‎He stressed that advance planning, timely decision-making and efficient use of resources were essential for disaster management. Transparency, accountability and the use of modern technology in relief operations remained among the Sindh government’s key priorities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026