KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed all the commissioners, deputy commissioners and other officials of the administration to keep close contact with the people of their respective areas and look after them properly, particularly in resolving their security and daily routine issues.

The chief minister issued these directives, through the chief secretary, after going through press reports regarding mismanagement, traffic accidents, tribal clashes over petty issues and complaints of people about non-availability of officials to redress their complaints regarding civic amenities.

He told the officials not only to be present at work but also be actually available to the people. He told them to visit different areas in their jurisdiction, hear people’s grievances and initiate action to redress them and provide them relief.

“Our people are simple, poor and innocent, therefore, they must be looked after properly, particularly in terms of their security and solution of their day-to-day issues,” he said.

The deputy commissioners must visit their cities, health facilities and schools so that their functioning could be improved.

He issued similar instructions to the police.

The CM also emphasised the need for keeping the environment clean and asked the local government minister to direct the local bodies to keep their areas clean. “We are giving them ample funds, therefore, they have to work to maintain their localities,” he said.

The chief minister also took serious notice of the kidnapping of a woman in Lal Bah village, Umerkot, and directed the commissioner and DIG of Mirpurkhas to help recover the woman and safeguard the life, property and dignity of everyone living there, particularly those of the minorities.

He also took notice of press reports about chickenpox cases in Jhudo villages and directed the health department to dispatch a medical team to each affected village of Jhudo, Mirpurkhas district, where chickenpox had reportedly hit a number of children. He directed them to provide the victims medical aid and report to him.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2017