KARACHI, May 7: Governor Ishratul Ibad has vowed to thwart attempts to divide rural and urban population and said that the government is making all out efforts to create harmony among the entire population living in Sindh.

Dr Ibad was talking to newsmen after visiting Anti-terrorism Training Centre at Razakabad near here on Tuesday.

To a question about the appointment of adviser on Sindh interior affairs, he said it was merely a difference of perception and called upon the press to come forward and play its important role in creating harmony.

He indicated at the ‘best results’ emerging from the government efforts to banish the urban-rural divide.

The governor said that the government was determined to solve the problems faced by the province in a better way.

“We have to put the province on the path of development because if Sindh is developed, the country will develop,” he said adding: “Karachi is the ‘mirror of Pakistan’. If economic activities and law and order situation in the city are good, then the people would fell that situation in whole of the country is good.”

He said that rural and urban departments had been segregated with the objective to have a better approach towards the problems of interior Sindh.

Dr Ibad said that for the promotion of harmony among the provinces, an inter-provincial ministry had also been created.

To another question, the governor said that he and the chief minister enjoyed good relations. “I have never seen such friendly and cordial relations between a governor and a CM in the past,” he remarked.

Responding to a questioner, he maintained that employment opportunities should be provided to local residents of the area where workplace (industries) existed. He said he would not allow violation of the rules and regulations laid down for the purpose.

Dr Ibad said he would continue to undertake surprise visits elsewhere in the province to see by himself standard of the material being used in various development projects and pace of work.

He asked the concerned officials to ensure completion of all the development projects in the province on time so as to enable the people start benefiting from these schemes at the earliest.

Earlier during a visit to the Anti-terrorist Training Centre (ATTC) at Razzakabad, he issued directive for increasing ration and qualification allowances of the Elite Force trainees by Rs1,600 per month.

The IG Police, Syed Kamal Shah, DIG (Training) Saud Mirza and Commandant Col. Wahid were also present on the occasion.

The governor also directed the concerned authorities to provide other facilities to the Centre’s trainee officers and personnel. He ordered release of funds already approved by the previous governments for police personnel and announced a special grant of Rs1 million for the Centre.

The governor appreciated the standard of training being imparted at the Centre and lauded the services of Col. Wahid in this regard.

Appreciating the aims and objectives of the ATTC, the governor said that the entire police force should follow these standards and work with the same spirit.

He also reduced the upper age-limit for the Elite Force trainees from 40 to 35 years saying that such training should start in the early age.

Addressing the trainees, Dr Ibad called for a better liaison between police and citizens, adding that this would encourage citizens to enter police stations for the redressal of their complaints without any hesitation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kamal Shah said that every district would have contingents of Elite Force.—APP