KARACHI, March 26: Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad has emphasised the need for chalking out a realistic line of action based on positive thinking for preservation of historic and heritage buildings and places. “Such a strategy should be pursued with continuity for progress,” he said while presiding over a high-level meeting at Governor’s House.

The meeting reviewed the promotion of tourism and sports, provision of facilities in playgrounds, functionality of culture department and performance of social welfare department.

Stressing on inter-district coordination, the governor said that all possible steps would be taken for promotion of sports to augment healthy trends in the province.

He directed that a calendar of cultural, sports and recreational events should be compiled and a provincial sports policy be prepared so that people and especially the youth were attracted towards various sports activities.

The sports and culture department, he said, should bring to the fore talented boys in sports, who could bring good name to the country and this province.

He pointed out that provision of better environment to sportsmen was the department’s basic responsibility and for this purpose required facilities be provided in all stadiums.

Ishratul Ibad was informed that for the first time a youth directorate had been established to provide encouragement to the youth. He called upon the department officials to identify the problems of the youth throughout the province and organise seminars, symposia and discussions in cooperation with the district governments.

He said that the youth directorate should also have its policy which would help generate positive thinking in the youth and new talent would come forward.

Reviewing the performance of social welfare department, the governor said that there were about 12,000 street children in Karachi. He asked the department to make emergency efforts for the welfare of these children and arrange for their accommodation, education and training.

He suggested that cooperation of good non-government organisation be sought in this regard so that these children were brought up as useful citizens in the future.

He inquired about the performance of NGOs functioning in the province and called for compiling their data. He said that these NGOs should be categorised according to their field of work. He said that a directory of these NGOs should be prepared while compiling their data which will help in having an easy review of their working.

The governor sought a monthly report about Darul Aman and Darul Atfal and said legal matters be expeditiously processed for providing facilities especially to women. He told the social welfare department to cooperate in legal matters for speedy submission of cases of women in Darul Amans before the courts.

He took stock of health, sanitation and female education in Darul Amans in Karachi and Hyderabad. He asked the department to focus on women education through cooperation with NGOs.

Reviewing the performance of culture and tourism department, he told the meeting that Sindh was rich in cultural heritage and the department should be further activated for its promotion.

Ishratul Ibad pointed out that a lot of foreign exchange could be earned in the field of tourism.

He directed the tourism department officials to focus railway stations and airports for tourism promotion and make brochures, information booklets available to people and foreigners free of cost. He asked the officials to focus at least 10 recreational places in Sindh and provide all modern facilities there through public-private partnership.

The governor directed that planning be carried out in respect of Sadhu Bela, coastal areas of Thatta, places around Keenjhar Lake which were most appropriate places for recreation. He said that facilities to be provided should include chair lifts, boats, water sports etc.

He asked the officials of culture department to prepare a web site containing information with regard to cultural identity of every district.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Sindh Sports Minister Qamar Mansoor, Finance Adviser M.A. Jalil, Culture Secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashdi besides officials of concerned departments. —APP