KARACHI, Aug 8: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad has said the scheduled local body elections will be held under the supervision of police and Rangers, and the army will remain stand-by to avert any untoward situation.

Talking to media at luncheon meeting with the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, the governor said that it was the responsibility of police and Rangers to maintain law and order. However, he added, army’s help would be sought only in an emergency situation.

He also presented party-wise statistics/results of last general elections in Karachi and said the voters were likely to maintain that very trend in the coming local government polls.

He called upon the people to resist the very limited group of people, who were fanning extremism and terrorism, and defaming the country’s image in the world.

Ishratul Ibad asked the business community to sort out and prioritize their problems and bring possible solutions with more seriousness and optimistic approach. He said that the government wanted a big change in the industrial and trade sectors within the shortest possible time.

He said that he had kept close liaison with the representatives of industries in Karachi and other areas of Sindh to ensure upgradation and expansion of industries at the earliest. He said that enhanced interaction and public-private partnership would help in achieving the common goal of strengthening industrial sector for economic prosperity in Sindh.

He acknowledged the high spirit and potential of businessmen and said that the main impediment towards industrialization was the deteriorated law and order situation which had been effectively addressed by the present government.

He said the main challenge before the government was elimination of unemployment and inflation. In the rural areas wherein the poverty scale was very high, he said that the government had launched special initiatives in agriculture sector i.e. water and land management, and crop and seed selection.

Ishratul Ibad said that inflation could be controlled only through correction of market mechanism. As a corrective measure, the government with all sincerity was trying to reduce the cost of doing business, he said, adding that “we should move with realistic assessment and valuation.”

Referring to the development activities, he said that Karachi would be free from power or water shortages in the next two years. He disclosed that the provincial government had chalked out a programme “Discover Sindh” to introduce resources, investment and trade opportunities available in Sindh at national and international levels.

Earlier, in his welcome address, KATI Chairman Abdul Haseeb Khan apprised the governor of the problems being faced by industries in Korangi. He also acknowledged the positive and serious efforts from the federal and provincial governments for their resolution.

On the occasion, the governor planted a tree in the KATI head office premises and attributed it to Independence Day celebrations. He appealed to all to plant trees on the occasion of Independence Day. —APP