November 25, 2008	Tuesday	Ziqa'ad 26, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 24: Sindh Auqaf Minister Abdul Haseeb informed members of the Sindh Assembly on Monday that corrupt officials had misappropriated the funds released for the renovation of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine, saying that the federal government should take action against them.

He was replying to a question asked by opposition member Jam Tamachi during the question hour. He said the funds meant for the renovation of the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sachal Sarmast and Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai shrines were provided by the federal government and the provincial Auqaf department was supposed to only supervise the work.

Jam Tamachi wanted to know why the renovation work had not been completed despite the passage of 30 years.

He also objected to the selection of Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine’s door which, he observed, resembled those of Hindu temples. The minister assured him of looking into the matter.

Mr Haseeb informed the members that his department was looking after about 80 shrines in the province. “We have some schemes aimed at ensuring an increase in the offerings at these shrines. Audit of these donations is being carried out regularly,” he added.

He further stated that there were 79 mosques under the administrative control of his department. No renovation or repair work of these mosques had been carried out by the department during the year 2007-08, he said.

Responding to a question asked by Salim Khurshid Khokhar, he said there was no religious place of non-Muslims under the administrative control of the department.

Food department

Law Minister Mohammad Ayaz Soomro, replying to questions on behalf of Food Minister Nadir Magsi, informed the opposition members that 29,700 wheat bags worth around Rs40 million were damaged in rains while the stocks were lying in the Bholari (Kotri) godown of the food department. He attributed the loss to the negligence of the officials concerned.

He said disciplinary action against the deputy director (Food) Hyderabad, district food controller, Dadu, and the then centre in-charge, Bholari godown, had been initiated while the centre in-charge had been placed under suspension. The action would be finalised after receipt of the relevant inquiry report, he added.

He termed the artificial shortage of wheat flour and fertilisers in the province “a conspiracy against the present government,” but held out the assurance that the government would construct more godowns for storing wheat.

In a written reply, the minister said there were 77 flour mills in Karachi and 72 of them were functional. The total production capacity of these mills was 15,120.097 tons, he added.—PPI