KARACHI, Nov 18: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Friday ordered restoration and reactivation of all development authorities in the province. He directed the Sindh Chief Secretary to formulate necessary rules and regulations, saying local governments should be given representation in all (development) authorities according to spirit of devolution plan.

He was chairing a high-level meeting at Governor’s House here to review availability of residential facilities in the province. Sindh senior minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, advisers on finance, local government and information, M A Jalil, Wasim Akhtar and Salahuddin Haider respectively, chief secretary Fazlur Rehman, city nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal, principal secretary Muhammad Salim Khan, senior member Board of Revenue Sindh Syed Anwar Haider and other concerned officials attended the meeting.

Dr Ishratul Ibad observed that people were facing a lot of difficulties in availability of residential facilities due to lack of development authorities. Development in this regard is essential to accelerate projects for provision of shelter to people especially to homeless, he added.

The meeting also reviewed establishment of new truck stand near Northern Bypass and widening of current routes and construction of new route heading towards recreational and residential areas of Hawkesbay.

Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project director Shafiqur Rehman Paracha briefed about pace of work on the project.

The governor issued directives for early completion of Hawkesbay scheme and master plan of areas adjacent to seaside.

EDO master plan Atiq Baig apprised the meeting about development with regard to master plan and in this regard proposed three schemes.

The governor instructed the city nazim to review these proposals and finalise the master plan so that recreational and residential atmosphere of the coastal areas is not affected.

Malir Development Authority (MDA) director Amirzada Kohati briefed the meeting about latest development on low-cost housing schemes.

Meanwhile, the governor said that significant qualities of Pakistani nation emerged on the occasion of October 8 devastating earthquake and the way the entire nation got united for their distressed countrymen with a spirit of humanity, sincerity and cohesion has been talked about the world over.

“The people of Karachi in particular, played an exemplary role in this regard”, he said while talking to the participants of 35th PN Staff Course of Naval War College Lahore at Governor House here on Thursday.

Replying to queries of course participants, the governor said Karachi is the world’s 7th biggest city and an emerging hub of economy. He said that being a big city, the rate of population growth here was also double.

He said the recent bomb blast was a conspiracy to sabotage the peaceful environment.

He pointed out that just 5 minutes after bomb blast, all concerned agencies were at the scene of the blast while the accused involved were arrested within 24 hours of the incident.—PPI/APP