KARACHI: Attendance condition for Inter exam relaxed
KARACHI, March 27: The Sindh Cabinet, which met here on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Governor Mohammedmian Soomro, appreciated the steps taken for maintenance of law and order which enabled a peaceful observance of Ashura Muharram-ul-Haram.
The cabinet decided that the measures taken during Muharram should continue afterwards also.
Briefing newsmen on the decisions taken at the cabinet meeting, the Secretary Information, Shahnaz S. Hamid, said the cabinet appreciated, that despite an operation being carried out against bandits in the interior of Sindh, police maintained law and order during Muharram.
The cabinet thanked police, rangers and the army as well as the city and town Nazims for making untiring efforts and assisting the administration in maintaining peace and tranquillity.
The cabinet decided that a close liaison would be maintained with the religious heads of mosques, churches, temples and other places of worships, and they would be told to keep a watch on suspicious elements visiting these places. The home secretary and the inspector-general police would maintain close liaison with doctors to solve their problems, particularly those related to their security.
The cabinet observed that all killings of doctors were not sectarian in nature, but some of them were the result of acts of terrorism.
It referred a proposal to the Services and General Administration Department to further examine the issue of declaring the posts of grade-17 lecturers in the education department at district level. It was decided to take a final decision on the issue when the proposal is returned by the department.
The cabinet decided to allow students having 50 per cent attendance to appear in examination, waiving off the condition of their having 75 per cent attendance.
Pointing out that this decision had been taken for the sake of law and order, this would be only one-time decision and in future students having 75 per cent attendance would only be allowed to appear in exams.
The cabinet withdrew the discretionary powers of the chairmen of educational boards and principals who could allow 10 per cent and five per cent waivers in attendance, respectively.
The meeting gave approval to three Ordinances - (1) Removal from Service Special Powers (Amendment) Ordinance-2001, (2) Sindh Civil Service (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, and (3) Sugarcane Factory Control (Amendment) Ordinance.
It was decided that henceforth the Public Accounts Committee, which used to function under an adhoc order, would work under an ordinance.
The cabinet took strong notice of complaints being received by the governor and the secretary education regarding collection of donations by private educational institutions. These institutions were warned not to demand donations by force.
The governor expressed satisfaction at irrigation water supply situation in the province following rainfall in the country’s northern parts.
The officials of the agriculture and irrigation departments were instructed to ensure prudent use of the available water.
The governor instructed that strict action be taken against those involved in water theft.
The cabinet was informed that a technical and advisory committee had been constituted for implementation of rehabilitation/revamping of irrigation and drainage system in Sindh. The 12-member committee is headed by Muzammil H. Qureshi, retired secretary irrigation and power.
Its terms and reference include: Analyze, finalize and prioritize schemes; scrutiny of PC-I of schemes; monitoring of schemes; advise on water issues; and other matters relating to development works.
The governor said strict action would also be taken against officials who would be found conniving in water theft. He instructed police to continue the anti-bandit operation. — APP
