May 25, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

HYDERABAD, May 24: Sindh Minister for Information Ms Shazia Mari has said that the government officials who are “relics of dictatorial regime” are trying to create impediments to the implementation of government’s programme.

They would be discouraged and honest and conscientious officials would be encouraged and rewarded, the minister said in her address at an open kutchehry in Sanghar on Friday.

She said that the people’s government had received a legacy of hunger, poverty, unemployment, water and energy crisis and the problems of education and health from the dictatorial regime and was determined to solve them on priority basis.

She said that the people’s government would not leave any stone unturned to implement its manifesto of “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” and was formulating a comprehensive economic policy to further its objectives.

In response to complaints about artificial shortage of irrigation water and its theft she directed the DPO and irrigation officials to take strict action against water thieves and the government officials who were responsible for water shortages.

He directed the DPO to hold open kutchehries on a regular basis on each Tuesday to hear public complaints.

About unscheduled load-shedding and issuance of inflated and detection bills, she directed the Hesco officials to reduce load-shedding hours and publish its schedule in newspapers.

She said that people’s complaints mainly related to shortage of water, load-shedding and education and health problems. They also complained about slow pace of development works.

Ms Mari later said in Hyderabad at a seminar on “Current Challenges of Pakistan” organised by a private university that the Pakistan People’s Party believed in the independence of judiciary.

She said that the political, social and economic problems people had been experiencing for nine years were because of a weak judiciary.

To a question, she said that Pakistan Muslim League-N was an important ally of the government and Mian Nawaz Sharif had played an important role for the restoration of democracy.

Ms Mari paid rich tributes to journalists for their sacrifices for the freedom of news and views. The government believed in the freedom of expression, which she said was essential for democracy and the country’s development.

She said that the government would announce some policies for the welfare of journalists after the next budget. During 60 years of rule, dictators had damaged all the institutions, trampled over fundamental human rights and introduced Kalashnikov, heroin and terrorism culture, she said.

She said that Bhuttos had scarified their lives but never compromised on the security of state and its people. People today people were more politically conscious and would not allow any person to deprive them of their democratic and basic fundamental rights, she stressed.