MIRPURKHAS, June 5: Government is making allout efforts to redress grievances of the masses, which is evident from allocation of huge amount of funds for development works.

This was stated by the governor, Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ibad, while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the regional office of the Sindh ombudsman at the Circuit House here on Thursday.

He said that he had directed all functionaries of the Sindh government to work for the welfare of the masses without any discrimination.

Fulfilling the old demand of this area, the governor announced to establish a board of intermediate and secondary education at Mirpurkhas.

He assured that it would start functioning next year.

He said that he had directed that an export processing zone and an industrial area be established in Mirpurkhas.

He said that it was being planned to establish English medium schools at the Taluka level.

Referring to development works, he said that the government had allocated a huge amount for various schemes under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme throughout Sindh, and after completion of these schemes a change would be visible in the province.

He said that about a 125-kilometre-long metalled road under the farms-to-market programme would be constructed in Mirpurkhas district.

Dr Ishratul Ibad announced a grant of Rs300,000 for providing stationary to the educational institutions.

The governor said that with the establishment of the regional ombudsman office at Mirpurkhas, the problems of Mirpurkhas, Tharparkar and Sanghar districts would be resolved.

He gave away 3,500 slates and pencils for the primary schools of Tharparkar to the district officer, education, Mithi.

Earlier, the provincial ombudsman, Justice (retd) Hazikul Khairi, in his welcome address, said the fourth regional office of the ombudsman is being established in Mirpurkhas, while three regional offices are already working at Sukkur, Larkana and Hyderabad.

He hoped that the people of this area, particularly of far-flung areas, would get justice from this office.

Talking about the performance of his department, he said that 1,576 complaints were registered in 1991, which increased to 6,584 by 2002.

He said 794,767 complaints were redressed during the last 12 years.

He said that he had taken suo motu notice in different cases including illegal possession of the lands of citizens by the police, providing bathrooms in commercial and congested areas, providing seats for women in buses, treatment of dog-bite cases.

Later, the governor, Sindh, inaugurated the regional ombudsman office.

The governor also visited different parts of the city and expressed his displeasure over conditions of the Jinnah Public Park.

He directed the administration to rehabilitate the park.

He also went to the residence of Anis Ahmed Khan, member, Rabita Committee, MQM.

On this occasion, many poor people including women entered Mr Anis’s house to meet the governor who asked the officers to submit their written complaints to Minister Shabbir Ahmed Qaimi, who would present these complaints to him.

Later, he left for Tando Jan Mohammad town, where he inaugurated the Government Girls Degree College.

DECOMPOSED BODY: The decomposed body of a shepherd, Amb Bheel, 16, was fished out by some villagers from the west branch of the Jamrao Canal, near 78 Mori, on Wednesday night.