August 04, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 1 429

KARACHI, Aug 3: Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Jam Madad Ali has expressed concern over a reported move of the government to roll back the National Commission for Human Development.

Asking the government to review the decision, he said the NCHD’s closure would not only render 80,000 employees jobless but would also deprive over 8.2 million children of education.

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, he said the PPP government that returned to power with the people’s mandate on the manifesto of Roti, Kapra and Makaan (food, clothes and shelter) ought to honour the commitment of its late leader rather than rendering thousands of people jobless and millions of children illiterate.

Mr Ali said the government before making any such decision ought to keep in consideration the interest of public, who were already facing hardships on account of the soaring prices of essential commodities.

He said instead of scrapping the previous regime’s schemes aimed at removing illiteracy and checking poverty the government should come up with the projects, promised by the ruling party during the election campaign, to provide relief to the masses.

He said if the government failed to review its decision illiteracy and unemployment would increase and the law and order situation would deteriorate.

He recalled that the commission was set up in 2002 to pay special attention in the education and the health sectors in backward areas of the country, Sindh province in particular.

Under the national commission, more than 21,000 community schools were opened along with 0.12 million literacy centres where 50,000 teachers were imparting education to over 8.2 million children.

Mr Ali, who is also a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-F Parliamentary Party, said it would be a great national loss if the government stopped financing the NCHD programme.

The backward areas of Sindh would particularly suffer by any such decision, he said.

About the agriculture sector and rural areas, he drew government’s attention towards irrigation water shortage, particularly in tail-end areas, and demanded that water supply to the tail-enders be ensured.

Besides, there was a shortage of urea fertiliser in Sindh, he said, adding that it was being sold in black market.

He called upon the government to ensure its availability at the government fixed price to cultivators and take action against hoarders.

He also expressed gratitude to Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain for his moral support and said that his statement would strengthen democracy in the country.