KARACHI: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Tuesday said 25 Bangladeshi prisoners, who were in jails for minor crimes or were unable to pay imposed fines, were released and being sent back to their country.

The initiative taken by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society and its chairman Abrar ul Haq for the release of the Bangladeshi prisoners was appreciable, he said while speaking at a news conference here at the Governor House. Each released prisoner was given $200 as financial assistance, besides an air ticket, he added.

The governor said bilateral relations with Bangladesh were getting stronger.

He said the PRCS was becoming a vibrant organisation, and assured it of the Governor House’s full support.

Answering a question, Governor Ismail said the implementation of the Karachi Transformation Plan was under way and its results would be “historic”.

He said under the Karachi package announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan major issues of the megalopolis, including transport and sewerage, would be resolved.

In response to another query, the governor replied that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was like “a used cartridge”. He was standing with those people whom he used to criticise in the past. He said the maulana lacked political vision as he was unable to notice resistance within his own party.

Replying to a question about the gas shortage, Imran Ismail said that all-out efforts were being made by the government to overcome the shortage.

He said the gas resources were shrinking and the shortage was not limited to any city or province. It was high time to move towards alternative energy, he added.

The governor regretted that some elements were politicising the gas shortage also. Pakistan was headed in the right direction of progress and development. All the indicators were showing positive results about its economy or any other segment.

Answering another question, he said that unfortunately educational institutions, restaurants, and other businesses were being shut as a precautionary measure to break the Covid-19 transmission chain. However, on the contrary, the opposition was organising public gatherings.

PRCS chairman Abrar ul Haq said: “We are serving the humanity following the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.”

He praised the governor as “a very dynamic person”.

Published in Dawn, December 23rd, 2020