HYDERABAD, Jan 30: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has said the government has allocated Rs500 million to improve the sewerage system and Rs980 million for other development schemes in the district.

Speaking at a meet-the-press programme, organized by the Hyderabad Press Club on Thursday, the governor said out of Rs500 million, Rs125 million had already been released and added he had asked the Sindh government to release the remaining amount.

He said he had also instructed authorities concerned to launch a scheme for the disposal of solid waste.

He said he would request the president and the prime minister to announce a special grant for the province.

The governor said he would take up problems of Sindh with the federation and would make efforts to get them resolved.

He said Sindh had been facing many problems for a long time due to the apathy of the powers.

He said the province was very rich in resources but inequitable distribution of the resources had developed a sense of deprivation among people.

About division between urban and rural population, the governor said this should be eliminated and steps should be taken to promote harmonious relations among people.

He said the press could play an important role in furtherance of this objective.

He said he was aware of problems confronting the province and its people and would work to resolve these problems.

He referred to problems of water shortage, unemployment, health and education and added these problems could be resolved through consensus and not through confrontation.

He said differences between the provinces should be resolved through the federation.

He the press should not only identify problems but also their causes and suggest solution.

Asked as to why resources of Sindh should not be spent on the province, Ibad said Sindh was an integral part of the country and the concept of the federation was that resources of the country should be spent equitably, and no part of the country should be neglected.

He said a feeling was prevailing in Sindh that the province was not being given its due share in resources.

He said his endeavour would be to get a judicious share for Sindh, commensurate with its resources.

Answering a question about differences between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the governor said he had talked to the leadership of both the parties and claimed the provocative situation had been defused.

He said law enforcement agencies should be given an opportunity to decide registered FIRs, in accordance with the law, and expose culprits.

About the Model University Ordinance, Mr Ibad was of the opinion that the matter should be reviewed through discussion between parties concerned.

He said in order to improve the standard of education, the problem of ghost schools and ghost teachers would have to be solved.

To a question about “no-go” areas in the interior of Sindh, the governor said his priority was to improve the law and order situation and expressed his determination that no-go areas would be eliminated.

Referring to problems of the local press and newsmen, he asked office-bearers of the press club to come to Karachi with a written brief so that he could recommend their case to quarters concerned.

He also announced Rs100,000 for the press club.

Earlier, the governor was welcomed by the president of the press club, Lala Rehman Samoo, and acting general-secretary Junaid Khanzada.

The governor also visited two hunger strike camps, set up by the employees of daily Sindh and Manu Bheel, whose nine family members were kidnapped by a landlord nine years back.

The editor and staff of daily Sindh are protesting against the discriminatory attitude of the government towards the paper in respect of advertisements.