SUKKUR, April 25: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar on Sunday directed police officials to maintain law and order in their areas and make sure that every criminal was apprehended.

Speaking at an open kutchery at Mahar House, Ghotki , he said no criminal would be spared, irrespective of his tribal background. He asked the influential people of the area to keep a vigilant eye on the movement of criminals.

The chief minister directed the district police officers to monitor the performance of their subordinates, so that the security of life, honour and property of the people could be ensured.

He assured the people that the pace of development work in the area would be increased. He directed the officials concerned to monitor the quality of the work. Many people presented applications to the chief minister and he issued orders on those on the spot.

POWER TARIFF: The Minister of State for Water and Power, Khalid Ahmed Lund, has said that a decrease in electricity tariff will be announced soon. Talking to newsmen at his residence in Khalidabad, Ghotki district, on Friday, he said that for the last four years Wapda had been purchasing electricity at higher rates and providing it to consumers on cheaper rates due to which it had suffered a loss of more than Rs49 billion.

He said the government tried its best to improve the working of Wapda and convert it into a profit-making department. Mr Lund said that during the last five years Wapda had completed projects worth Rs150 billion while its revenue increased up to 132 per cent.

The minister said that the working of Wapda had improved a lot in the last four years due to the personal interest of President Musharraf. He said that action against incapable and corrupt officials would continue and no one would be spared.

Mr Lund said that the increase in electricity generation had been recorded in the recent years. He said in the year 1997-98, electricity generation was 53,259 megawatt while it increased to 64,038 megawatt in the year 2002-03, recording over all increase to 20 per cent.

He said that there was a shortage of water in Sindh and Punjab as well and more water reservoirs were needed to meet the shortage. The minister said that those playing politics over the issue of Kalabagh dam were not sincere with the problems of the country.

KILLED: Four unidentified armed outlaws tried to snatch a tractor from Mohammad Azam and Ali Mohammad Brohi near Jacobabad the other day. On offering resistance, the bandits opened fire as a result Azam was killed on the spot while Ali was injured.