HYDERABAD, Dec 1: District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman has protested against the proposed scrutiny of development schemes of the district’s uplift plan by the Sindh chief minister and the governor.

Speaking at a session of the district council here on Monday, the Nazim said the Sindh government was confused over the execution of the Rs10.5 billion development package announced by the prime minister and added that a steering committee at the provincial level had been appointed to scrutinize uplift schemes to be carried out under the plan.

He said as per the original plan, the entire amount was to be transferred to the district government’s non-lapsable account and a project director had to be appointed by the Sindh government.

However, Dr Rafiquzzaman said there were different proposals now and he had heard that on Dec 12, the chief minister would be visiting the city to scrutinize schemes of rural areas. He said it had also been learnt that the governor would scrutinize urban areas’ schemes.

He said the finance department had refused to release Rs500 million of the governor’s Hyderabad Development Package.

The Nazim said Rs141 million of the Annual Development Programme should be reappropriated forthwith and the amount be made part of block allocations of the district.

He asked DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed to issue show-cause notices to officers who avoided attending sessions of the district council.

The DCO said powers were being gradually devolved at the district level and it would take some time to get the system strengthened.

He also underscored the need for improving the education sector.

PRISONER DIES: An under-trial prisoner died of hepatitis at the civil hospital here on Sunday night.