KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Saturday that the independence of the country was achieved through a lot of sacrifices, therefore, we have to protect it and develop it as one of the peaceful and best countries in the world.

This he said while talking to the media just after offering fateha and laying a wreath on the mazar of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Mr Shah said that Pakistan was not achieved simply with lip service, but it was the result of great struggle and sacrifices of our forefathers led by the great leader Quaid-i-Azam. “Therefore, we have to protect this country from all the threats; we have to serve it with our best abilities, and we have to develop it as one of the most beautiful countries in the world,” he said.

Paying rich tribute to the Father of Nation, he said the Quaid-i-Azam was a great leader, a man of principles and it was his vision that he carved out Pakistan, that otherwise was not possible.

Murad Ali Shah urged the nation to unite to face the imminent threats from the eastern and western borders of the country.

‘We are going to construct flyovers and underpasses on the railway crossings on the KCR track’

Talking about the Covid-19 situation, the CM said that the pandemic had badly affected the entire world, but Alhamdulillah, its impact in the country, particularly in Sindh, was not as severe as it had been in our neighboring countries. “Whatever decisions I have taken were not unilateral, but they were taken in consultation with the experts; that’s why we have succeeded in containing the virus to some extent,” he said.

Answering a question, Mr Shah said the Sindh and federal governments were working to combat the pandemic through the National Command and Operation Centre. “Political differences have nothing to do with the common cause that is fighting against the pandemic, development of the country and national unity,” he said.

In reply to another question, the chief minister said that the Supreme Court had decided that the federal government would complete the Karachi Circular Railway project. “We have removed the encroachments along the track of the KCR and are going to construct its other infrastructure such as flyovers and underpasses on the railway crossings,” he said. Murad Ali Shah said that his government had allocated Rs8 billion for the procurement of buses for different BRT routes.

The BRT Yellow Line project was almost complete and it would be launched with the launching of the federal government’s Green Line project. He added that the order for the procurement of buses for the Yellow Line had already been placed and delivery would be received shortly.

Earlier, the chief minister with Governor Imran Ismail performed flag hoisting ceremony at the Mazar-i-Quaid and laid a wreath on the mazar before the they offered fateha.

Rewards for policemen

The CM announced a Rs5 million reward for the police of Shikarpur district who killed two notorious dacoits — Jhangal, alias Motu Teghani, and Jan Mohammad Teghani — in an encounter. The two dacoits were involved in heinous crimes such as killing, kidnapping for ransom, highway robberies, dacoities and killing two policemen — Munawar Jatoi and Abdul Khaliq.

The police had registered 36 FIRs against Jhangal Teghani and 21 FIRs against Jan Mohammad.

The chief minister said that with the killing of the two notorious dacoits the morale of the police had improved and the people of Larkana division had heaved a sigh of relief.

Mr Shah directed the inspector general of police to issue appreciation certificates to the police party that took part in the encounter against the outlaws.

Library inaugurated

The chief minister inaugurated Dr Jameel Jalibi Research Library established at the University of Karachi. He was accompanied by Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, University & Boards Minister Ismail Rahu and CM’s Adviser on Law Murtaza Wahab.

He also visited the two-storey library and reading rooms.

Published in Dawn, August 15th , 2021