09 November 2004	Tuesday	25 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Nov 8: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan on Monday emphasised the need for instituting special measures to complete the housing projects in the province in a coordinated manner and particularly to ensure the provision of housing facilities for low-income people.

In this regard, he issued a directive for the establishment of a special housing unit in the Local Government department.

Speaking at a high-level meeting in the Governor's House, he stressed the provision of civic facilities in Hyderabad and making effective efforts for housing and other related matters.

He ordered the launch of a citywide cleanliness campaign in Hyderabad from Nov 25 and said that during the 15-day long drive, the garbage dumps lying since long should be removed while in future the sanitation work would be carried out on a day-to-day basis.

The governor called for two more landfill sites for dumping of the city garbage, for which Rs450 million has been kept in the Hyderabad Package.

The meeting was briefed on the details of different housing projects of the Hyderabad Development Authority.

While considering the Kohsar Scheme, it was recommended that as decided in the previous meeting, the Board of Revenue should provide land to the authority at Rs30 per square yard.

The governor directed that immediate steps be taken for the setting up of a governing body to manage the affairs of the HDA in an active and effective manner.

Referring to the water crisis and contamination experienced in Hyderabad last year, the governor stressed special planning.

He said that in case of water shortage in the Indus, water should be obtained from alternative sources for areas fed by the Latifabad No 4 and Hussainabad pumping stations.

The Hyderabad nazim told the meeting about the programme for linking the two pumping stations with water channels.

The governor directed the senior minister to finalise the matters for shifting of old Sabzi Mandi and activation of the new Sabzi Mandi and said that steps also be taken concerning the slaughter house.

On the occasion, Dr Ishratul Ibad asked the chief secretary to have coordination among various departments to resolve the issue of occupation of HDA houses by the police and also regarding proprietary rights of land purchased from SITE.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Senior Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, Adviser for Local Government Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mohammed Aslam Sanjrani, Hyderabad Nazim Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, Principal Secretary Akhtar Zamin, ACS for Local Government Mohammed Saleem Khan and DCO of Hyderabad Mohammed Hussain Syed. - APP