KARACHI, April 10: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has instructed all the government departments concerned to take up on a “war footing” the completion of entire infrastructure development work at the Journalists Housing Society in Hawkesbay.

He was speaking on Thursday at a plaque-unveiling ceremony and handing over a Rs20-million cheque on behalf of the Sindh government to the Lyari Development Project to initiate development work of infrastructure on 816 plots allotted to journalists in blocks 3 and 3-A of the Hawkesbay Scheme 43.

The governor announced a grant of Rs one million for Karachi Press Club (KPC) on the occasion.

“It was a dead issue that we have now revived after several years,” the governor said while recalling the indifferent attitude of several past governments with regard to allotment of residential plots to journalists.

He was reminded by Karachi Press Club President Sabihuddin Ghausi that these plots were allotted to journalists in June 1996. Since then, 30 journalists have died waiting for a final decision from the government on this issue.

Dr Ibad described journalists’ demands as just while taking notice of the issues raised by the KPC president who called for speedy development of infrastructure facilities in the area, allocation of more funds for the purpose in the next fiscal year’s budget, more residential plots for new members of the KPC, broadening and carpeting of Hawkesbay Road, construction of an alternative road to link Hawkesbay with the RCD Highway, residential plots for the employees of the KPC and a grant of Rs2.5 million for the KPC.

The governor instructed Chief Secretary K. B. Rind to continuously review the progress of development work at the site of journalists housing site in Hawkesbay after every 4-6 weeks to ensure that job targets were achieved within the stipulated time.

He said similar housing projects would be taken up in every district of the province.

“Let this be clear that henceforth there will not be any resistance or any impediment from the government in the way of solving the housing problems of journalists,” he declared.

He advised journalists to go ahead with the setting up of a journalists welfare foundation and promised that the government would extend all cooperation.

Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan promised to take up with the Governor of State Bank of Pakistan the issue of concessional housing finance for the journalists.

Mr Rind urged government departments to take up the development projects related to the Journalists Housing Society on a priority basis.

KPC Secretary Khurshid Abbasi welcomed the guests.

Later, the governor unveiled the plaque at the site signalling the beginning of development work.