KARACHI, Jan 1: Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad and Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar on Wednesday had a meeting with President Pervez Musharraf here at the Governor’s House.

They remained with the president for some time and discussed various matters.

Later, the former Governor of Sindh, Mohammedmian Soomro, and members of his former cabinet also had a farewell meeting with the president.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad, Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi and Sindh Chief Secretary K.B. Rind were also present on the occasion.

The former governor and his cabinet colleagues highlighted the efforts and the achievements made during their three-year tenure and offered their full support and cooperation to the new governor as well as the new Sindh government.

They claimed that during the last three years, the province witnessed stability and progress in all spheres of national life and great improvement was brought in all sections of governance.

They thanked President Pervez Musharraf for his meeting with them and said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan that previous governor and his cabinet members were invited for an inter-action and sharing their views and experiences with the new governor and the chief minister.

The members of former cabinet expressed their thanks and gratitude to the president and former governor for the respect, courtesy and guidance they received during the three-year tenure. They pledged to serve the province and the country in future without any renumeration.

Dwelling upon the efforts made towards poverty alleviation, they pointed out that a record 7000 schemes were completed in Sindh for the development of the people of the province and the country under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme.

Governor Ishrat-ul-Ibad and Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar appreciated the achievements made during the last three years and pledged to make all efforts to capitalise on the results attained and steer the province towards a better future.

They identified three main areas for focus and efforts — elimination of the urban-rural divide, greater inter-provincial coordination and cooperation and economic/political improvement which, they said, were critical for the uplift of the province.

They pledged to work in the overall interest of Sindh and its people and to focus on all parts of the province.

President Musharraf thanked former Governor Soomro and members of his former cabinet as well as the new Sindh Governor and Chief Minister for their positive thinking and efforts for the improvement of the lot of people of Sindh and their dedication and constructive approach towards the province.

Appreciating the devotion with which the previous government worked, the President expressed his confidence in the new provincial government which, he observed, had the capacity to lift Pakistan as well as the province to new heights.

He also appreciated the total harmony which existed between the new Sindh Governor and Chief Minister and also for having a similarity in their directions on the future uplift of the Sindh province.

The president emphasised that more concerted efforts were needed for poverty allevation.

He appreciated the similarity and unanimity in views of the Governor and the Chief Minister on Local Government system and the directions to be pursued towards poverty alleviation and future development of the province.—APP