KARACHI, Jul 23: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has called for taking effective steps on a priority basis for the reduction of poverty, controlling inflation, implementation of police reforms, provision of employment besides elimination of extremism.

In two separate meetings with officials held here in the Governor’s House on Saturday, Dr Ibad reviewed the progress of implementation across the province of steps suggested by President General Pervez Musharraf in his recent address to the nation.

The governor, in this regard, directed officials to devise a clear strategy with specification of time schedule.

He said as a result of pursuance of the president's policies and reform programmes, there has been a visible progress in the economic, education, social and other sectors.

The past regimes only paid lip service to reducing poverty and it was the achievement of the present government that it took practical steps in this regard, he said.

He said it was important to identify the factors responsible for creating poverty therefore this task was taken up first by the government and then progress was made under a well-prepared plan.

Dr Ibad said the rural population was hit harder by inflation than the urban and hence particular attention was being paid to the progress of rural economy side by side initiating development works and mega projects in the cities. Besides other steps for the creation of employment opportunities, mega projects worth billions of rupees for improvement of agriculture and irrigation system were also under way.

Lining of water courses was in progress with the cooperation of the World Bank, he added.

Governor Ishratul Ibad said work had also been initiated on projects for the provision of clean drinking water on UC level.

He said the government had made bridging the urban-rural divide its foremost priority and it was paying equal attention to the development of all areas.

He also reviewed the strategy aimed at controlling price hike and ensuring availability of daily use items to the public at affordable rates.

In this regard, he stressed active role of the consumer associations and provision of every possible cooperation to them for the purpose.

He issued directive for proper monitoring of steps to ensure provision of subsidy of Rs104 billion to the common man and making available the items including sugar, atta, ghee, pulses, tea, etc at control rates.—APP