KARACHI, July 8: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman has directed the departments concerned to ensure provision of health, education, water supply, sewerage and other basic facilities to seven islands of Keamari Town, including Baba Bhit, Shams Pir and Yunusabad.

Chairing a meeting on Saturday, he said that the shortcomings in the provision of existing facilities should be removed.

The chief secretary asked the KWSB managing director to submit the scheme for water supply and sewerage for these islands after authentication by the planning and development department by July 11 through secretary local government.

KWSB MD made some suggestions but special secretary finance said that in view of importance of the issue related to a population of about 40,000, its implementation warranted urgency.

The Executive District Officer (Schools) was directed to submit proposals within a week regarding schools management fund, staff position and provision of required facilities for schools of these islands before the start of academic session. The EDO was also asked to submit details of the matriculates on these islands so that they were appointed as teachers on contract basis.

EDO (Health) was directed to ensure the availability of doctors and paramedical staff at Baba Bhit Island from morning to evening. The meeting decided that Keamari’s UC-4 Nazim would submit recommendations for appointment of male and female doctors for night duty.

The chief secretary directed that condition of schools and hospitals at these islands should be improved within a week while provision of facilities for water supply and sewerage should be ensured by December 2006.

Among others, the meeting was attended by local government secretary, DCO, special secretaries education, planning and development and finance, additional secretary health, deputy secretary implementation, director local government and Keamari Town Nazim.—APP