Sindh to get 4,000 cusecs extra water from Punjab: Cabinet told...
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, July 12: The Sindh government on Monday decided to set up a crisis management cell to deal with the situations created in the wake of terrorist activities and emergencies, like rains and floods.
The decision was taken in the first meeting of the provincial cabinet, chaired by the cheif minister, Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who said good governance would be the guiding principle of his government.
According to details revealed by the information adviser, Salahuddin Haider, ministers and MPAs would be in charge of the committees set up to deal with the situation. Dr Arbab Rahim made it clear to his cabinet colleagues that although he had given them a complete authority, if they failed to come up to the expectations of the people, they would be asked to make room for others.
During the two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting, the chief minister also emphasized the need for inculcating a team spirit for realizing the spelt out objectives of his government.
He said that the province can take its own decisions, but maintained that he himself and his ministers would have to be accountable to the people and serving them without any discrimination.
Reposing confidence in the chief ministers, the new cabinet expressed full support to the chief minister in his strategy of attacking the problems. The cabinet also took notice of power supply position and the problems which affect citizens.
The Sindh chief minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, had recently criticized the previous governments for striking deals with independent power producers which had caused huge losses to the national exchequer.
He had also urged the KESC to bring down its tariff, pointing out that a reduction in the PTCL rates led to an increase in its revenue. During the meeting, water and power issues were deliberated upon at length.
Sindh minister for irrigation Nadir Akmal Leghari informed the cabinet that the province had been allowed an additional supply of 4,000 cusecs of water from Punjab.
Dr Arbab Rahim disclosed that very soon a comprehensive policy on transfers and postings would be announced to remove the present difficulties as some officers were firmly entrenched on their present positions for years.
In this context, he directed the chief secretary to obtain reports from all the DCOs regarding monthly transfers in their respective districts. He said all Nazims should also get in touch with the ministers because there were complaints that the local governments were themselves indulging in frequent transfers and postings, and the blame was being shifted on the provincial government.
Provincial minister for industries Adil Siddiqui proposed setting up of new industrial zones to overcome the unemployment problem, said Mr Haider. Other ministers also gave suggestions with regard to their ministries.
The cabinet also decided to supply anti-rabies vaccine, and provide an impressive amount to hospitals to deal with emergencies, like bomb blasts, etc. Provincial ministers Qamar Mansoor, Mustafa Kamal and others called for providing medico- legal facilities at Korangi, Lyari General Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed and Liaquatabad hospitals besides training paramedics.
It was also decided to approach the federal government for additional facilities at the Jinnah Post-Graduate Medical Centre. Provincial ministers Irfanullah Marwat, Pir Sadruddin Shah and Imtiaz Shaikh made suggestions for improving the governance. Adviser Ejaz Shah Shirazi made suggestions on expediting privatization of Thatta and Dadu sugar mills.
