KARACHI, Oct 26: The Chief Secretary, Sindh, K. B. Rind, has expressed his satisfaction over the progress in the implementation of the mega projects, the province, particularly in Karachi. He directed all the provincial departments to expedite the work and accomplish the task within the stipulated time.
He was presiding over a meeting of the provincial secretaries’ committee in his office. The meeting was also attended by the Nazimeen, DCOs and representative of the 5 corps besides secretary and senior member of the Board of Revenue, all the administrative secretaries and officials from Baitul Maal, HESCO, KWSB, NHA and other institutions.
The meeting reviewed the progress of mega project viz Khushhal Pakistan Programme Phase-III, ADP, Drought Emergency Relief Assistance (DERA). foreign aided projects under ADP, Food Support Programme and president’s programme under Education Sector Reforms (ESR).
The meeting noted that the projects of Shah Faisal flyover, reconstruction and extension of Korangi crossing-Hino Chowk and Hino Chowk-Kala Pul roads were near completion while work on Lyari Expressway, including the process of affected people’s rehabilitation was in progress and likely to be completed as per the scheduled.
The chief secretary told the Nazimeen to identify schemes under the KPP-IV for which a sum of Rs2.8 billion had already been allocated.
Mr Rind asked the KWSB for suitable arrangements to deal with the water scarcity in Karachi and take action against miscreants and unwilling officials involved in ‘illegal operations’.
The Food Secretary, Imtiaz Kazi, announced Ramazan Package under which 200,000 tons of wheat flour would be made available to the people on subsidized rates i.e. Re1 less per kg. He urged Nazimeen and DCOs to set up special outlets to facilitate people in availing the benefit of the package.
The CS suggested inclusion of NGOs, flour mills, chakkies and weekly bazaars, etc. for the sale of cheaper flour.
The meeting also reviewed the wheat distribution system meant for the drought-hit districts of Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Dadu where 269,550 wheat sacks of 100-kg each are being provided as aid under the supervision of the Sindh Relief Commissioner Mr Manzoor Hussain Bhutto (senior member, Board of Revenue). He will also hear and redress the complaints of irregularities in the distribution system on Monday (Oct 28) at Mirpurkhas and the next day in Tharparkar.
During the meeting, Mr Rind advised the secretaries of Law, Home and Local Government Departments to sit together and ensure delegation of magisterial powers to the TMOs and other officers under section-14 of the Cr.PC with specific regard to the eradication of price-hike during the holy month of Ramazan.
On certain queries from the Nazimeen, the chief secretary asked the Home Secretary, Brig Mukhtar Ahmed, to ensure promulgation of Public Safety Commission in all the districts of Sindh in the interest of general public. The meeting was informed that the PSC had already been introduced in the districts of Hyderabad, Sukkur, Sanghar and Badin.
The IGP Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, briefed the meeting on the law and order situation in Sindh and said concrete measures were being taken in this regard. He said that efforts were under way to acquire sophisticated equipment with the assistance of philanthropists to ensure safety and security in the province. He said that the culprits involved in the recent parcel-bomb blasts in Karachi have also been identified and details would be disclosed shortly.—APP
