SHIKARPUR, July 13: The Sindh chief minister, Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar, has said that the government was determined to serve the people of the province from the platform of the Pakistan Muslim League(Q) with the help of its allies.

He said this while addressing public meetings at Madeji, Kamario House, Tarai; Mahar House, Wazirabad; Jatoi House and Shaikh House, Shikarpur, on Saturday.

The chief minister said that the Sindh government had approved many development schemes, particularly construction of roads and sewage system, upgradation of educational and health institutions, for which a huge amount had been allocated despite paucity of funds.

He appealed to the elected representatives and people of the areas to extend their cooperation to the government to enable it to implement the development and welfare schemes.

Mr Mahar said that the Shikarpur bypass and a double-track road linking Sukkur to Shikarpur had been approved by the federal government.

He said that there was no shortage of water for Kharif crops as there was a high flood in the River Indus.

He expressed concern over the irregularities and excesses committed by Wapda and Hesco authorities and called Wapda a white elephant.

He advised the consumers to approach the Wapda chairman to settle problems regarding load-shedding, inflated bills, detection bills, etc.

Referring to the unemployment problem, Mr Mahar said that his government was framing policies to overcome unemployment and was trying to encourage the private sector in the province.

Responding to the demands at the public meetings, Mr Mahar pledged to provide required financial support for the construction of sewage system and roads in Shikarpur and other schemes for all the Talukas in the district.

He announced Rs10 million for carrying out development schemes in Garhi Yasin Taluka, Rs5 million for upgradation of an intermediate college in Madeji, Rs200,000 for the Shikarpur Press Club and Rs100,000 for the Madeji Press Club as financial assistance.