KARACHI: Foreign firms interested in uplift plans, says Mahar
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 28: Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar has said that his government has embarked upon the crucial phase of creating an atmosphere conducive to foreign investment in the province, particularly in the port city, to expedite pace of work on development projects.
He was talking to a group of newsmen at the CM House on Friday.
Terming the response ‘quite encouraging’, he pointed out that the 9/11 event had changed people’s outlook, especially tourist hailing from the Middle East countries, who appeared no more keen in spending their vacations or indulging in ventures in the United States or European countries.
A lot of tourists, he observed, were considering Pakistan, which is blessed with four seasons, natural bounties, historical sites, cultural heritage, a long coastal belt and much more. They can find any place and environment in this country to satisfy their urge if modern facilities and tourist-friendly atmosphere are made available to them, he said.
Mr Mahar revealed that many foreign firms, willing to invest in tourism-related projects in Sindh, had approached the provincial. Besides, he added, China, Germany, Kuwait, Dubai and Thailand were among those keenly interested in certain projects like the proposed ‘Water World’ near Hawkesbay, desalination plant meant for Karachi, a specific plant in Thar to extract water from coal moisture, etc.
“Some of the offers are under consideration and the concerned departments have been directed to prepare feasibility reports,” he said.
The CM pointed out that on its part, the government had been providing basic infrastructure, including flyovers and improved road network, better transport facilities as well as water supply.
Regarding efforts to improve law and order situation, he referred to the close coordination among various intelligence agencies and said that it had started showing results. He contended that unlike in the past when outlaws used to go scot- free after committing heinous crimes, those involved in recent bomb blasts and acts of terrorism were apprehended.
The chief minister pointed out that the feasibility of ‘water force’ and ‘border force’ was also being prepared. He was of the view that these forces which certainly help improve law and order in the interior of Sindh as they were aimed at preventing effectively the escape of criminals from one province to the other.
Mr Mahar highlighted the importance of Thar coal-power project and upgradation of Gorakh, in Dadu, to a hill station and said that these projects would change the destiny of Sindh and its people. “The projects will bring about a revolution in the remote and backward areas of the province by generating employment opportunities for local people,” he added.
Mr Mahar dispelled the impression that the law and order situation in Dadu district was still bad and claimed that it had remarkably improved now. He expressed the hope that it would further improve with the commencement of development activities at Gorkah where two police stations would be set up to check crime in the 35-kms area.
He said that the provincial government had released Rs100 million which would be spent on the development of tourists resorts and establishment of a ‘new city’ for which certain multinational firms and international groups running chains of five-star hotels had shown their interest in acquiring lands for establishing hotels and tourist-attraction sites. However, he added, the government’s priority at the moment was to provide an infrastructure for such projects before accepting the offers.
The chief minister mentioned that his government had given approval to the Sindh Cultural Department to use the heritage buildings of Hindu Gymkhana and Mohatta Palace for cultural activities, including exhibitions and folk music programmes. For the purpose, he said, approval had also been given for the construction of an auditorium in the Gymkhana.
Refuting the allegations of “politically-motivated transfers and postings”, the CM clarified that the purpose of changing secretaries of some departments was to improve performance of the functionaries. In this regard, he recalled that it had been made clear to all the secretaries that their performance would be reviewed every three months and if they failed to produce results, they would not only be transferred but might face action also.
The cabinet, he said, would hold fortnightly meetings to review progress and performance of each department and remove bottlenecks, if any.
Mr Mahar said that an amount of Rs1,360 million was outstanding against the federal government and that he had asked the provincial advisor, finance, to pursue the matter. He said that he himself might take up the issue with the prime minister and the president if necessary.
Regarding devolution plan, he said that provincial departments faced no major problem. Rather, he added, it was being regarded as a good system.
