HYDERABAD, Oct 3: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that Hyderabad’s drainage network and the main storm water drain should be built before roads.

He was speaking at a dinner hosted for him by former Sindh minister and ex-district naib nazim Nawab Rashid Ali Khan at his residence.

District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil was present on the occasion.

“I want the drainage problem to be addressed first and roads can be built afterwards”, he said.

He said that the main storm drain should be constructed towards the Indus river to dispose of city’s water in the event of heavy rains.

The chief minister said that the government was fulfilling its commitment of releasing Rs10 billion funds announced by the president for Hyderabad.

He said that the federal government had yet to release its share of funds.

He said that gates of the main storm drain should be fixed in the embankment of Indus for releasing water into the river and the system should be connected with diesel and electric pumping machines.

He said that he had asked the inspection team to look into the matter and expressed the hope that the district nazim would also assist the team.

He said that study could be done to see how a storm water drain could be connected with other saline water drain passing through other districts.

He said that Rs10 billion was a huge grant and it would certainly lead to a big change in the city.

He said that Hyderabad was an important city of Sindh from geographical point of view.

He said that central position of Hyderabad had not been changed.

Strongly defending his decision of dividing Hyderabad, he said that people were facilitated to a great extent in new districts.

He said that he took the decision because he was convinced that it would benefit people.

Nawab Rashid Ali Khan criticised some officers who were sticking to their posts for so many years and had ruined the city’s infrastructure.

“The officials had embezzled money but no body had touched them”, he said.

PRESS CLUB: Speaking at a reception at the Hyderabad Press Club, Sindh chief minister announced allotment of plots for journalists and Rs1 million for the press club.

He said that he was not sure whether he would change history or he himself would be “changed” but if he made even one per cent achievement he would consider that he had done a great job.

He admitted that there was corruption in government departments and added that he could not tell people that everything was fine and peaceful.