09 May 2004	Sunday	18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, May 8: The Sindh cabinet has expressed its disgust and dissatisfaction over the performance of police and other government institutions in the aftermath of Friday's tragedy in Karachi in which 14 people were killed and 96 others were injured.

The cabinet, which met here on Saturday with the Chief Minister, Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, in the chair, expressed concern over the failure of the agencies concerned to come up to the expectations of the people and also for failing to overcome the crisis.

The cabinet decided to set up a permanent crisis management cell, which would address all such emergencies, like bomb blasts, earthquake, fire, etc., so that the problems which were faced on Friday could be averted in any future incident.

The cabinet decided that the compensation announced by the Sindh government for the victims of the tragedy would be paid within three days. The participants of the meeting also offered Fateha for the victims of the tragedy and prayed for an early recovery of the injured.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Sindh information secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashdi said although it was a scheduled meeting of the cabinet, the Friday's tragedy and its after-effects dominated the proceedings of the cabinet.

Taking notice of the absence of responsible officials from their places of duty, particularly in hospitals where even medicines to meet emergency situations were not available, the chief minister directed the health secretary to ensure availability of medicines in hospitals where injured people of the tragedy were admitted.

IGP Sindh Syed Kamal Shah briefed the meeting about the tragedy and the level of its investigation by the committees set up for the purpose.

Replying to a question, Ms Rashdi said that the cabinet did not fix responsibility for the corollary incidents after the bomb blast in the mosque. However, the ministers critically examined every aspect of the situation. They were also informed that in the absence of SDMs under the police reforms, there should be someone who should be held responsible.

The matter of losses suffered by the people due to burning of vehicles and damage to property by violent mobs was also taken into account for payment of compensation. However, no decision was taken in this regard, she added.

Replying to a question, Mehtab Rashdi said the cabinet members did highlight the irresponsible attitude of the officials who, as a matter of their responsibility, should have shown greater dutifulness after the blast. She said the cabinet decided that such officials would certainly have to explain their conduct and they would be subjected to accountability.

After reviewing the law and order situation, she said, the cabinet took up its seven-point agenda which were mostly deferred items from previous meetings.

The cabinet was also given an exclusive briefing on the NFC Award in which no officials were allowed to sit.

Mrs Rashdi said annual report of the Sindh Privatization Commission for the year 2003 was also presented before the cabinet.

The cabinet discussed the lines on which the privatization of Thatta and Dadu sugar mills was to be carried out.

The cabinet gave approval to the decisions taken by the committees concerned with regard to handing over the allotment of auctioned plots of Board of Revenue in Scheme-33.

The cabinet also gave an approval for sending the Prohibition of Manufacturing and Storing of Gutka and mainpuri in the province to the Sindh Assembly. But, the bill will be sent to the law department for vetting before forwarding it to the assembly for legislation.

The cabinet had a detailed review of ADP 2002-03 and the additional chief secretary (development) said the utilization of the ADP remained good.

He said till March, the utilization in this respect was at Rs 11 billion and he termed the same as a record. He said the finance department too showed magnanimity in the release of funds.

The chief minister directed the secretaries of departments to ensure holding of meetings of the steering committees at their departmental level.