Implementation of Sindh govt's 'pro-poor initiatives' started.

KARACHI -- The Sindh government has said that it has started execution of its 'Pro-poor social protection and economic sustainability' initiatives for which the provincial budget of Rs34 billion had been set aside, it emerged on Wednesday.

A statement issued from Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah said that the chief secretary presided over a meeting of steering committee to oversee the implementation of the initiatives.

The meeting was attended by Haris Gazdar, special assistant to chief minister of Sindh for special protection, finance secretary Syed Hassan Naqvi and other officials.

'The Sindh government has earmarked Rs34.2 billion in the annual budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 to help citizens affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,' the statement quoted the chief secretary as saying in the meeting.

'This budget was made to ensure food security, reduce inflation and unemployment. Some Rs20 billion is proposed for cash transfers to those affected by coronavirus under the Sindh Peoples Support Programme through the Social Protection Strategic Unit (SPSU) and Social Welfare Department (SWD).'

It said that Rs5bn were allocated for a soft loan programme for small and medium enterprises in the province while...