21 February 2004	Saturday	29 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 20: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has directed education department to immediately postpone all examinations scheduled to be held during the first 10 days of Muharram.

The governor issued directive that the examinations be rescheduled for after 12th of the holy month and asked the provincial education department to ensure that his directive was implemented by all private and government institutions in the province.

Dr Ibad was presiding over a high-level meeting at the Governor House to review arrangements for the month of Muharram. The meeting was attended by ulema belonging to all sects, MNA Dr Amir Liaquat, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, Secretary Information Mehtab Akbar Rashidi and senior officials of police and administration.

The ulema pledged that the efforts being made to promote religious harmony among different sects would be intensified. They also promised to promote brotherhood and patience.

The governor lauded ulema's role in maintaining peace and harmony, and expressed the hope that better arrangements would be made this year keeping in view last year's experience.

He also directed the concerned officials to ensure cleanliness along the routes of mourning processions and around religious places. He called for special measures to ensure an improvement in the condition of roads, uninterrupted water and power supply, and special traffic arrangements during the holy month.

The governor stressed that a strict check be maintained on distribution of provocative literature and wall-chalking as a routine but special emphasis be laid on such activities during these days.

He also directed Nazims from interior Sindh to pay their full attention to suitable arrangements. He advised them to ensure their presence in their respective areas during the this period. -PPI