KARACHI, Nov 10: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Thursday asked the officials to discourage favouritism and unjust acts, and said they should utilise their capabilities for the welfare of people.
Presiding over a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, he emphasised the need for good governance and honesty and efficiency for prudent utilization of funds and better performance so that development work could be initiated at a fast pace to improve the quality of life of the people.
The meeting was attended, among others, by the Chief Secretary, IG Police, secretaries of all the provincial departments and heads of administrative bodies.
He said the officers should to promote government’s rightful acts without yielding to political pressures and prepare such projects which prove beneficial for people.
He said that though he could not pay full attention on administrative issues because of his political engagements, local bodies elections and other matters, he was hopeful that the administration would bring about a change in its behaviour, follow the government policies and fulfil the public demand for good governance and play an active role in the attainment of better results.
He told the meeting that President Pervez Musharraf would shortly meet officers of the provincial government and apprise them of his strategies.
Dr Arbab said he would encourage those pursuing principles, would not tolerate any negligience.
He said that alongwith education and health, greater attention would be paid to irrigation, roads and investment so that pace of development in the province is geared up.
Sindh Chief Minister referred to lifting of ban on land allotment to attract investment and for industrial development through establishment of more and more industrial units.
This, on the one hand would reduce unemployment and improve the provincial economy on the other, he added.
He declared that corruption in provincial departments would no more be tolerated now and process of punishment will be augmented along with reformation.
He directed that posting of government employees at district, tehsil and lower levels be made in accordance to their place of domicile.
He assured that job security will be provided to government employees, establishment of housing societies for them would be encouraged to meet their housing needs while proposal for providing cars to government officials on easy instalments would also be examined.
Dr Arbab Rahim said it would also be examined that many people have taken land and plots for setting up industries, but have failed to do the needful and said such land allotments would be cancelled. However, they would be given six month time for putting up industries before taking the action.
He warned that if plots, acquired wrongfully, are not got regularised, the same would also be cancelled.
He supported the proposal for microfilming of revenue and other government records and said steps be taken for preservation of hard copies.
“I want to bring a change in Sindh and merit will be protected in jobs”, he declared.
He said orders of teacher’s appointments in the province are being verified.
The Chief Minister said that in order to further improve the working of revenue department, rules regarding appointment of tapedar/patwari would be modified for attaining better results and they would be recruited in grade 7 with intermediate being minimum educational qualification.
He said after changes in rules, strict watch would be maintained on the performance of district governments and good governance.
He told the meeting that system of appointment of members on provincial, district and lower level zakat committees would be further improved so as to ensure just distribution of zakat among deserving persons.—APP
