April 27, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 20, 1429

LARKANA, April 26: Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday blamed ‘flawed’ policies of previous government, smuggling and hoarding for shortage of flour in the province.

Otherwise, there was no dearth of wheat in Sindh and the government had surmounted the shortage problem, said Mr Shah in his address to Larkana District Bar Association.

He said that ‘crises’ had been passed on to this government coupled with parliamentary conflicts and the government had to tackle them with firm determination.

About the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), he said that the bill passed by Sindh Assembly to put back the body’s administrative control in the hands of elected government was lying with Sindh Governor and he would sign it within a couple of days.

He said the caretakers overstepped their powers by making appointments and despite opposition by Pakistan People’s Party a chairman was installed to head SPSC and its members were nominated.

He announced cancelling all the appointments made in by the caretakers in contravention of rules and regulations in education, health, water board, local government and other departments. A committee of experienced officers had been formed to probe the matter, he said.

Referring to his meeting with prime minister who recently chaired Sindh cabinet’s meeting he said that they discussed all the issues including National Finance Commission, Water Apportionment Accord, loans and services.

He handed over cheque to BDA for Rs500,000 out of Rs100 million the prime minister had approved for the development of lawyers housing colony in Larkana.