UMERKOT: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Sunday said that the coalition between PPP and MQM is a gift to the people and it will continue for the sake of progress and prosperity of the province.

He was speaking to journalists at the residence of Provincial Minister Syed Ali Mardan Shah at village Khariro Syed. The CM said that the PPP government was working as per the aspirations and hopes of the people, adding the coalition between MQM and PPP was for the betterment of Sindh.

He said that the government, for the first time in 62 years, has resolved the issue of NFC Award issue according to the hopes and demands of the people.

To a question he said that the government was fully aware of unemployment in the province and that jobs were being provided to the educated on merit basis to reduce it.

Qaim Ali Shah also said that he hoped the government would be able to complete its five-year tenure. He said that work on generating electricity from Thar-coal had been started, adding that it would help in reducing load shedding in the country.

He said that the government had allocated Rs 250 billion to develop Mukhi Link Farsh Canal to overcome shortage of agricultural water in the region. He further said that special desalination plants were installed to convert saline water into drinking water.

While replying to a question he said that democracy is stable in the country. In this regard, he praised the efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari.

Earlier, the CM expressed heartfelt grief over the death of father of provincial minister Syed Mardan Ali Shah and offered condolence. -Agencies