KARACHI, July 15: Conceding that there were great strains on the common man’s life amidst high expectations from the elected government, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said it would be premature to expect a miracle after the provincial government’s first 100 days in power as, he claimed, at the time of the government’s formation it was besieged with great economic, political and social challenges inherited from the “nine-year dictatorial rule in the country.”

However, Qaim Ali Shah said that the reforms agenda, based on the election manifesto of Benazir Bhutto aimed at poverty alleviation, had started making inroads in almost all sectors, including improving law and order, providing employment, taking necessary measures to introduce transparency and good governance, and reviving the mechanism to bring down prices of essential commodities by checking hoarding.

The chief minister, flanked by Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza and Information Minister Shazia Marri, was addressing a crowded press conference here at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday, where he highlighted the 100 days’ performance of the Sindh government.

Referring to those who had started talking of the elected government’s failure in three months, he brushed aside such criticism and said that the government’s priorities were the restoration of law and order, economic progress and good governance.

“With the derailment of democracy, the old autocratic order will return and result in increasing poverty, injustice, rising unemployment and deterioration in law and order, which cannot be allowed, even though the beneficiaries of the old system are trying hard for its resurrection,” he said.

Recalling the improvement of the law and order situation in Karachi, he said that there was a decrease of 35 per cent in overall street crimes, cellphone snatching had decreased by 48 per cent, several gangs of hardened criminals had been busted and after a four-day operation, Lyari was not a “no go area” anymore.

He said search operations had yielded a huge quantity of sophisticated arms and ammunition. He said it was all possible because of pursuing the policy of posting the right people for the right jobs and continuous vigilance.

About the employment situation, he said approximately 60,000 posts were vacant in different departments and the recruitment process from grade 1to 15 had already started while for positions from grade 15 and above a requisition had already sent been sent to the Sindh Public Service Commission.

Besides, he said, the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Youth Development Programme was being launched to provide skills training to 40,000 youths.

He said for building housing units for the poor, land in seven districts was identified, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Thatta, Larkana and Shikarpur. He said during the current financial year 50,000 residential units would be built.

The chief minister said that over 200,000 acres of state land would be granted to landless haris and between 60 to 70 per cent would be in the name of females.

Mr Shah said that with the construction of the Nai Baran Dam, an extra 50,000 acres of land would be brought under cultivation through grant of land to landless peasants.

Price control

The chief minister said that the government was fully cognizant of the situation with regard to the rise in prices of essential commodities and was working with sincerity to reduce the impact of price hike at the provincial level.

“As for wheat procurement, by mid-July we have been able to procure approximately 506,676 tonnes,” he said.

He said a provincial committee comprising three ministers, namely food, agriculture and bureau of prices and supplies had been formed to oversee price control.

“The government has revived the bureau of prices and supplies as an oversight body for price control and regulation in the province. Besides, long-term steps are being taken to enhance agricultural productivity, both for meeting domestic demand and generating exportable surpluses,” he observed.

In the social sector the government has taken up village electrification and provision of gas with a cost of Rs2.3 billion.

Referring to urban revitalization, Qaim Ali Shah said Karachi remains a high priority where a Rs2 billion package over and above regular schemes and various other projects are being thrashed out. “With the support of the Asian Development Bank, a $300 million Sindh Cities Development Programme is being worked out. Non-Karachi urban centres in all major cities will also be developed including Larkana, which will be a top priority being the city of Benazir Bhutto,” he added.

In the health sector, service delivery of basic primary health is being improved, he said, and pointed out that out of 580 BHCs which were closed, over 100 were made operational where medicines, doctors, nurses, and male nurses were available to look after patients.

The chief minister said for posting qualified doctors in hospitals of far-off places, new doctors were being inducted with attractive incentives. “They will have to give an undertaking that they will serve for three years at least in district and rural health centres,” the chief minister said.

Besides, in district hospitals wards were being opened for providing treatment to patients of hepatitis.

Referring to the education sector, the chief minister said that a very comprehensive reforms programme was under implementation with the support of the World Bank and the EC. A massive school rehabilitation programme worth Rs2.7 billion was being undertaken for providing facilities to schools, the chief minister said.

He also referred to medium and long-term economic growth where the public sector investment portfolio had been scaled up from Rs50 billion to Rs67 billion for 2008-09.

Thar coal

In reply to a question, he said that while coal was a provincial subject, its expeditious development was dependent on the federal government. He said there was some confusion about the Thar Coal Developing Authority, which was recently set up by the federal government and needs some clarification, but it was clear that the Thar coal project would come under the control of the provincial government.

He said in the transport sector a massive allocation of Rs9bn had been made for the roads sector in the ADP for 362 schemes, with which 1,200km roads would be constructed, 500km roads would be improved and 10 bridges would be built, while a coastal highway project would be completed on a fast track.

Law and order

Dr Zulfiqar Mirza said that kidnapping for ransom, which was a major concern in Sukkur and Hyderabad regions, had decreased significantly. “Twenty-six kidnapped persons were recovered during July 2008 and highway robberies have shown a downward trend, while several important gangs involved in kidnapping for ransom and robberies had been smashed,” he claimed.

At the outset, the home minister said that when the coalition government was formed, law and order was a more complicated and bigger issue than employment, electricity and soaring prices as street crimes, carjackings, kidnappings for ransom and highway robberies were on the rise in upper and lower Sindh. “Although during the last three months the situation has not been quite satisfactory, it has improved a lot,” said Dr Mirza.

In reply to a question, he said that ‘Talibanisation’ was an 11-year-old issue and not the product of the present day. “We are taking steps to be more vigilant and keep an eye on the Taliban,” he added.