KARACHI, Feb 28: No licence for any liquor shop was issued in the province by the excise and taxation department during the financial year 2003-2004, Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, who was speaking on behalf of the chief minister, stated during question hour in the Sindh Assembly on Monday.

In order to check corruption, the Advisor to the Chief Minister for Excise and Taxation, M. A. Jalil, had surrendered his right of issuing licence for a liquor shop. He pointed out that one could make Rs4-5 million in gratification against the issuance of such a licence.

Mr Siddiqui, nevertheless, describe the consumption of narcotics as 'more menacing issue' which, he observed, was fast eroding the moral values in people, particularly the youth. The government was also making efforts to overcome the menace of Gutka, Panpuri, etc., he added.

He stated that in its anti-drugs campaign, the excise department had seized 19 tons of narcotics for which it deserved praise. Minister for Planning Shoaib Bokhari, speaking on behalf of Labour Minister Adil Siddiqui, told the house that 19 dispensaries were functioning under the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution in Karachi. Six of them fall in City Circle, seven in SITE Circle, and three each in Landhi and Korangi Circles.

Through these dispensaries, secured workers are provided medical care and medicines as prescribed by a medical officer. Pre-natal and post-natal care is provided in delivery cases; vaccination and additional facilities like x-ray and laboratory investigation are also provided to secured employees. Even by-pass surgery facility, if required, is availed by them at the JPMC or Agha Khan Hospital, according to the minister.