LARKANA, Dec 5: The district government has sought assistance of trade bodies in removing encroachments in the city before launching a new drainage scheme. Speaking at a reception hosted by the Larkana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, District Nazim Mohammad Bakhsh Arijo assured traders of facilities.

He said recreational facilities would be developed and a zoo would be established in the city on 50 acres of land.

The nazim expressed concern over the dilapidated state of parks and a garden in Larkana and said it needed urgent attention.

He also pointed towards the sorry state of affairs in education and health departments and said 30 schools were lying closed only in Larkana. He said the roof of a recently-built maternity home at the Ratodero Taluka Hospital had caved in before the facility had been made operational.

Mr Arijo said he had ordered an inquiry into the matter and directed the EDO, works and services, to complete the project in all respects.

Responding to questions of businessmen, he said that specialist doctors would visit Ratodero and Dokri taluka hospitals once in a week to treat patients. He said Chandka Medical College principal Prof Sikandar Shaikh had also promised to send teams of doctors to remote areas regularly.

LCCI president Azam Shaikh, former presidents Bashir M. Pariyal and Aslam Shaikh and others highlighted problems of trade bodies.

The LCCI presented a memorandum to the nazim, containing demands of shifting the vegetable market and constructing a circular road and a bridge connecting Larkana and Khairpur districts.

Meanwhile, the district nazim directed the EDO, education, for disciplinary action against three teachers he found absent during a visit to the Government High School, Khan-Wahan, on Monday.

The teachers were identified as Syed Wajid Ali Shah Imtiaz Ali Korejo and Mujeebur Rehman.