January 18, 2006	Wednesday	Zilhaj 17, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 17: The Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad, on Tuesday denied any “change” in the near future in the province and said the coalition government and provincial assembly would complete their tenures.

“The provincial assembly has already completed three out of five years, which is the longest tenure compared with any assembly in the past. The first city government Karachi had also successfully completed its tenure,” he said.

He was inaugurating a three-day photographic exhibition on “Sindh Economic Development”, organised by the Sindh Information and Archives Department in collaboration with the Arts Council.

Highlighting the ongoing development process in the province, Ibad said there was visible growth in every field.

Institutional reforms were under way, which was manifested by the fact that every second industry in various industrial zones of the province was expanding.

He was optimist that dedication, commitment and vision of all tiers of the government including the provincial and city governments would result in a more visible change in the next two years.

Citing the instance of institutional improvement, he said autonomous boards were being set up in hospitals including the Lyari and Civil hospitals for improving healthcare facilities.

For people from the low-income group, Ibad said the government had reactivated low-cost housing schemes, referring to the Taiser Town housing Scheme. While the New Malir Housing Scheme was also revived within six to seven months, he added.

He said these achievements were only due to political will and sustainable policies of the government, which were also encouraging sports and cultural activities.

Later talking to journalists, Ibad said the photographic exhibition was a reflection of the Sindh government’s performance in the past three years.

The Adviser to chief minister on Information and Archives, Salahuddin Haider, said his department was also making a film on the economic development in Sindh.

The Sindh Planning and Development Minister, Shoaib Bukhari also spoke.—PPI