KARACHI, July 1: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad Khan has said that the law and order situation in the province has improved considerably.

He was talking to newsmen after performing the inauguration of the Young Leaders’ Conference-2003 at a local hotel on Tuesday.

“If we compare the six months of this year to the corresponding period of the previous year, we will see that the situation has improved,” he remarked.

However, he said the government is not complacent and that further efforts are being put in for bringing about a further improvement in the law and order situation.

He said in the last few months a number of notorious criminals have been apprehended and the gangs of such criminals have been busted and that there have been convictions as well.

This shows that the prosecution, government organizations and the police department are undertaking investigation in a proper manner and preparing the cases in such a way, thus bringing to book the real culprits.

“There has been an improvement in the overall activity”, the governor added.

He further stated that the working of the law enforcement agencies was satisfactory.

However, the governor stressed that there was a need to put in more efforts.

When asked about his meeting with the director-general of Rangers and IGP on Monday, he said that he appreciated their efforts because over the last few months a number of operations were carried out in the interior of the province and the dacoits’ gangs were busted.

This has resulted in an improvement in the law and order situation to some extent in the interior of the province.

Dr. Ishrat was of the view that as far as the urban centres of the province, especially Karachi is concerned, the situation has improved manifestly.

When asked as to what action had been initiated by the government regarding the deaths in Landhi area of Karachi owing to contaminated water, the governor said the matter was under investigation which is being carried out at the highest level by the chief secretary.

He said all the samples are being scrutinized and the reasons are being looked into.

The governor made it clear that action would be initiated against those responsible for the tragic incident.

A reporter pointed out a gulf between the city and the provincial governments, but Dr. Ishrat dispelled such an impression and said that such a gap is being bridged.

He pointed out that because the system is new, the adjustments would have to be made and that there is also A need for conceptual adjustments besides the required transformation.

The governor said the people would also have to understand fully the system and that administrative adjustments are also needed.

“The teething problems are there but these are being overcome”, he added.

When a reporter asked as to why the ban on employment has not been lifted in the province, Dr. Ishrat said such a restriction would be lifted in due course of time.

The Sindh Chief Minister is working on this after the announcement of the provincial budget.—APP