KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah asked the federal government on Wednesday to ensure the ongoing population census was transparent, efficient, and foolproof, or else it would be hard for the people to consider the gigantic exercise credible.

He said this while speaking to reporters after unveiling the plaque of PET-CT Scanner Service at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation’s (SIUT) Mehrunissa Medical Complex Korangi.

The ministers for health and education, Dr Sikandar Mandhro and Jam Khan Shoro, accompanied him.

Expressing his concerns over the issue, he said his government had written a letter to Islamabad with certain suggestions, but, “sorry to say, I have received no response from there”.

Mr Shah said the population census was an extremely significant task and it needed to be accomplished with transparency.

“I just want them [the census authorities] to count each and every individual; otherwise, after four months people would be complaining that they had not been counted,” he said. “These complaints may affect the credibility of the census.”

Nutrition programme

CM Shah said he had established an organisation to address the issue of poor nutrition profile which caused stunting and other problems in children.

“All the donor agencies are on board and with their support the Sindh government is going to launch a comprehensive nutrition programme for mothers and [newborns],” he said.

Replying to a question, he said the healthcare delivery system at government hospitals had been improved through support and monitoring.

“We have provided medicines at our hospitals and made other facilities such as X-ray, lab tests etc functional,” he said. He added that the experience of public-private partnership in running health facilities had caused a noticeable difference.

The chief minister said vacant positions of all the universities operating in the public sector had been filled through competitive process, except at the Dow University of Health Sciences, which had been challenged in court. The positions for controllers of examination had also been advertised in the national press. He informed the media that chairmen of educational boards had also been appointed. “We are working to improve educational and administrative atmosphere in our universities,” he said.

Earlier, addressing the unveiling ceremony of the PET-CT scanner, Mr Shah said Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi was doing a commendable job.

“I am ready to give you a cheque right now if you tell me how much funds you need to complete this project,” he said.

Mr Shah said his mission was to serve the people of Sindh in need of health facilities, which was the chief reason behind his decision to declare a ‘health emergency’ in the province.

“When people like legendary Prof Adib Rizvi are with me, I am sure I would be able to succeed in my mission,” he said.

Mr Shah said the PET-CT scanner project was being established at a cost of Rs80 million and on the recommendation of Dr Rizvi he was going to establish 10 similar projects across Sindh.

Dr Rizvi briefed the chief minister on the project, saying the SIUT provided medical treatment to more than three million patients last year, 46 per cent of whom were residents of Sindh. Besides, it operated 5,000 cases of transplantation.

“Our OPD service runs round the clock,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017