14 November 2004	Sunday	01 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 13: The Chief Minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, on Saturday presided over a meeting convened to review the pace of work with regard to lining of 29,000 watercourses in the province. About Rs430 million has already been earmarked for the scheme.

The meeting was informed that in the first phase, some 255 watercourses would be lined at a cost of Rs124.18 million while Rs306 million would be spent on imparting training, holding seminars, workshops etc.

The chief minister directed that the work be completed in stipulated time as it would help reduce water losses.

The meeting was informed that 4,615 vacancies from grades 1 to 19 would be filled on contract basis for the project with the assistance of the World Bank. There were 2,140 vacancies in grades BPS 1 to 4, and 2,450 vacancies in grades BPS 11 to 19. Applications for these had already been invited.

It was decided that recruitment would be made strictly on the basis of merit, while committees for the purpose had already been constituted.

The written test for the selection of suitable candidates would be held with the help of any reputable institution.

Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Chief Secretary Mohammed Aslam Sanjrani, Secretary Agriculture Sabhago Jatoi, Project Director Muhammad Younus Daga and others also attended the meeting.

PUBLIC SAFETY: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that special measures have been taken to ensure public security on Eid and the law enforcement agencies have been asked to be ready to meet any untoward situation.

In a press statement issued here on Saturday, the chief minister said: "Eidul Fitr is an important event and on this delighted occasion we should show brotherhood, love and unity to other fellow human beings."

He vowed that activities of miscreants, bandits and terrorists would be monitored vigilantly during Eidul Fitr.

Meanwhile, the chief minister reviewed progress of provincial government departments, including information technology, finance, industries and labour, while chairing a meeting at the CM's House.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, Minister for Industries and Labour Adil Siddqui, Minister for Information Technology Syed Mustufa Kamal and Sindh MPA Kanwar Naveed.

NWFP CM: NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani called on Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and discussed different issues of mutual interest here on Saturday.

The NWFP chief minister had arrived here in the early hours of Saturday morning after performing Umrah. He was welcomed at the airport by Sindh Irrigation and Power Minister Nadir Akmal Leghari and Sindh Food Minister Arif Jatoi.

During the meeting between the chief ministers, Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Aslam Sanjrani and IGP Syed Kamal Shah were also present.

Later on Saturday evening, Akram Durrani left for Peshawar.-PPI