KARACHI: ‘Package for Lyari uplift Being prepared’
In this connection two packages – short- and long-term – are being worked out, one by the Sindh government and the other by the federal government.
This was stated by Senior Minister in the Sindh cabinet Pir Mazharul Haq on Thursday.
Pir Mazhar, accompanied by Irrigation Minister Saifullah Dharejo, Adviser to the Chief Minister Waqar Mehdi, and Information Secretary Fasihuddin Khan, was addressing a crowded press conference at the Sindh Secretariat after the cabinet meeting.
The meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, initially deliberated on three main items: removal of complaints of theft of irrigation water, particularly in Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Dadu; formation of a committee for disposal of old Cessna aircraft and two helicopters, which were out of use, and launching an anti-hepatitis campaign on a war footing in Sindh, particularly in districts Thatta, Badin and the Kacho area of Kohistan, where it had become an epidemic.
The other issue, on which the cabinet was taken into confidence, was acting Food Minister Agha Taimur’s disclosure that now wheat flour was available in the open market at Rs24 per kg while the target of the government was to bring it down in the next few days to Rs20 per kg.
‘OPS culture’
The cabinet was informed that the government was determined to eliminate the ‘own pay scale (OPS) culture’ and any officer found deviating from the cabinet decision in this regard would be taken to task. The law department had been asked to get vacated the high court’s order for the status quo given in the case of the irrigation and power department. Action was being initiated against the AAG of the law department who had given consent for passing the status quo order, which had blocked promotions of engineers in the irrigation department and only two chief engineers were working instead of 12.
Minister Shoaib Bokhari presented his report regarding the setting up and functioning of the price control committees, which would soon be made operational.
The cabinet was briefed about the MPAs’ development fund, which was raised to Rs1 million along with identification of the schemes for which the funds could be utilised.
The cabinet was also informed that during the last year of the 2002-2007 assembly, there were 50 MPAs who did not utilise their development funds to implement uplift schemes in their respective constituencies. Now the government had decided to carry over the funds and allow the area MPAs to submit development schemes so that the funds could be utilised in the same constituency.
Hepatitis B and C ?
Referring to the hepatitis issue, Pir Mazhar said that there had been complaints about the spreading of hepatitis B and C in the province, where mostly children were falling victim to the epidemic.
He said the government had decided to launch a campaign on a war footing from next week to check the menace. He said that vaccines, which are quite expensive, would be supplied free.
As for the situation in Lyari, the minister said although results of the operation in the area had improved the law and order situation, there was still a need to work hard in the gang-infested area to stabilise the situation.
He said on the suggestion of Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, a committee comprising elected members of the locality Rafique Engineer, Saleem Hingoro and Ms Nadia Gabol was formed, which was assigned the job of preparing a short-term special package to improve the economic conditions and establish reliable infrastructure in the area. He said the package would be in addition to the package being prepared at the federal level.
He said with the implementation of the special packages, the influence of the gangsters would be eliminated for good from the locality.
Irrigation
In view of the large number of complaints regarding shortage of irrigation water and its theft by influential people, depriving tail-enders of their due share for irrigation, Pir Mazhar said that the cabinet had authorised irrigation minister Saifullah Dharejo to visit all areas, particularly Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Dadu, where such complaints persist.
He said that the chief minister had directed all DPOs to accompany the minister in his visit and take action against all those officials and influential persons found tampering with regulators and water outlets.
Mr Dharejo, in reply to a question, said that not only would landlords found illegally siphoning off water be arrested and cases would be registered against them, but irrigation officers found involved would also be suspended.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority’s (SIDA) performance and gave the organization five days to improve its performance, or else the government would be recommended to wind it up.
In reply to another question, Pir Mazhar said that the committee formed for the disposal of aircraft and helicopters comprises Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Revenue Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, secretaries of general administration and finance, and the secretary to the chief minister, along with a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority.
He also said that the government has decided to contact Engro and Fauji fertiliser companies to increase the supply of fertiliser to Thatta and Badin, where complaints of its short supply persist.