KARACHI: Govt decides to introduce English from Class I
KARACHI, March 12: The Sindh government here on Tuesday decided to introduce English as a second language from Class-I in all the urban and rural areas of the province.
It is already a second language from Class V and the decision has been taken to enhance the learning capacity of the children.
The Sindh Cabinet, which met here on Tuesday with the Sindh Governor Mohammadmian Soomro in the chair, also discussed a proposal, submitted by the education department, regarding enhancing fee at the higher education level.
The cabinet, however, did not take a final decision on the matter and it was deferred for thrashing out the proposal.
Briefing newsmen, secretary of information Shahnaz S. Hamid said since the government had already made the education free up to secondary level, it was felt to generate more funds for improving the standard of education and the educational institutions by enhancing the fee at higher education level.
LAW & ORDER: Reviewing the law and order situation, the Cabinet decided not to impose a ban on pillion-riding in any city and town of the province in view of the hardships people suffer on account of such restrictions.
The cabinet meeting, which continued for over six hours, decided to deal firmly with terrorists and take precautions to control the situation.
It also reviewed the progress with regard to its earlier decision of patrolling by helicopter and installation of cameras at commercial centres and other sensitive areas of the city.
As regards the setting up of pickets, especially to check car-thefts, the cabinet directed the authorities to speed up the establishment of pickets as funds had been released.
The police officials were asked to keep a vigil at the parking lots, especially to prevent car thefts.
The Cabinet also took notice of killing of doctors in Karachi and directed the police to beef up security measures for doctors.
The meeting decided to pay compensation to the heirs of policemen who lost their lives during encounters in recent days.
IGP Sindh Syed Kamal Shah briefed the Cabinet on anti-dacoit operation going on in the interior of the province and said several gangs of bandits had, so far, been busted.
THAL CANAL: The Cabinet also discussed water shortage in the River Indus and Thal canal issue, and reiterated that it was committed to follow the Water Accord of 1991.
The Cabinet appreciated the gesture of President Pervez Musharraf who announced a grant of Rs10 billion for revamping the irrigation system of the province.
It was felt that the principled position of the Sindh government needs to be explained to the public as there was a total harmony between the two positions.
The Sindh government has taken a stand that the sanctity of water accord 1991 was paramount and all aspects of the accord be implemented in letter and in spirit.
The Greater Thal Canal may only be approved simultaneously with the implementation of other aspects of the accord, including water-sharing and provision of water downstream Kotri to avoid sea intrusion, the Cabinet stressed.
The Cabinet also discussed the issue of arrears of defunct SRTC employees and decided that all the principal dues of employees be paid immediately.
The meeting was informed that Sindh Privatization Commission had finalized the arrangements to dispose of 11 assets of the provincial government.
These include Trauma Centre, Karachi, office premises of Civic Centre, Hyderabad, residential bungalow, new Wahdat Colony, Hyderabad, residential quarter, Hyderabad, Printing Press Building, Hyderabad, Sindh Government Press, Khairpur, Open Plot at Mirpur Mathelo, residential plot in Hyderabad, commercial plot in Hyderabad, new packed imported printing machinery in Karachi and SRTC properties. The last date of bidding is March 30.
The Cabinet also discussed expansion and repair plan of Sindh Assembly and instructed the concerned authorities to complete the renovation work before the forthcoming general elections.—PPI/APP
