DADU: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Thursday that there was no coordination between former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government and Sindh government because federal government was never interested in establishing a working relationship with Sindh.

He was speaking to journalists at the 15th death anniversary programme of his father, Syed Abdullah Shah who remained chief minister of Sindh, in Wahur village near Sehwan on Thursday.

He said that all problems had been discussed with the prime minister in detail in Wednesday’s meeting. Sindhs’ problems were raised before the prime minister and he immediately resolved some of the issues, he said.

He said that local bodies elections would be held in two phases with the first phase to be organised on June 26, and the second phase in July. The present joint opposition would decide how long the present government would last to hold next general election, he said.

He said that he would soon call on the prime minister in Islamabad. PPP had called for the creation of a southern province in the Punjab but made it clear that no new province would be created in Sindh. Sindh needed its due share of water as it was facing shortage, he said.

He said the water issue was also taken up with the prime minister. PTI government had worked against masses, he said.

About election of new president, he said that parties would decide who would be next president. National Assembly session would be held on April 16, he said.

Shah said that water in dams had dropped to dead level because it had been released to generate power by former PTI government. The ill-advised policy had caused serious shortage of water in the country, especially in Sindh, he said.

He said that efforts would be made to provide adequate share of water to growers from the available resources to enable them to cultivate seasonal crops. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assured Sindh government of providing complete share of water, he said.

He said that immediately after he was elected prime minister, Shehbaz arrived in Karachi and held meeting with him in which he presented before him various issues. The prime minister assured him of resolving the issues and gave directives to resolve some matters there and then, he said.

He said that he would visit Islamabad to meet the prime minister after he got free from forming his cabinet. The prime minister also committed to provide adequate share of water to the province.

PPP leaders, MNA Sikandar Ali Rahpoto, Syed Asif Ali Shah and Amanullah Shahani said that Syed Abdullah Shah was a brave person, who remained loyal with PPP through thick and thin. Sindh developed by leaps and bounds during his tenure, they said.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2022