SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah has asked the Sukkur district administration and all departments to improve civic conditions in the city and other parts of the district by mobilising their officials and employees.

He was presiding over a meeting at the Sukkur deputy commissioner’s office on Saturday. Arsalan Islam Shaikh, the PPP nominee for the slot of the city’s mayor, Deputy Commi­ssioner Dr Waheed Asghar Bhatti, the North Sindh Urban Services Corporation (NSUSC) managing director and officials of various relevant departments attended the meeting.

Mr Shah told the meeting that municipalities were supposed to deliver services to the people on a daily basis as they dealt with basic amenities like water, health, cleanliness and other such essential necessities. He stressed the need for ensuring full attendance at all municipal offices and proper supervision of staff so as to avoid lapses the delivery of services.

Mr Shah called for increasing funds meant for municipalities and said the Sukkur Municipal Corporation (SMC) should be provided sufficient funds for the reconstruction of the Old Victoria Market employing modern technology and techniques and with proper planning.

The meeting also considered various measures to ensure an increase in the revenues of the SMC and other municipalities of the district. The aim should be to make municipalities self-reliant and efficient, Mr Shah told the meeting.

Arsalan Shaikh directed all taluka municipal officers to pay due attention to the proper maintenance of all parks managed by the SMC. After restoring them in good shape, the parks would be handed over to the interested parties/departments on a public-private partnership basis with a view to provide extra recreation facilities to the public and promote healthy activities, he said.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Dr Bhatti gave a briefing to the meeting on different issues being faced by the SMC and other municipalities in the district. He acknowledged that Sukkur city was facing a shortage of drinking water. However, he said, tanker service had been activated to provide some relief to the people.

He informed the meeting that the Ghulam Mohammed Mahar Medical College, which was functioning at its existing location on a temporary basis, would be shifted in its own building within the current year.

Syed Khurshid Shah directed the DC to chalk out a plan for the beautification of all roundabout/intersections in the city. He said consultants be hired to help prepare the designs.

Mr Shah also observed that illegal connections had been hooked to the power supply lines installed for the Sukkur Civil Hospital. He called for a disconnection drive and action against power thieves without any discrimination.

He said a semi-private ward and separate chambers for at least 40 doctors/consulants be established with the civil hospital to provide better health facilities to pat­ients and also help generate revenues for the hospital.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2016