KARACHI, Jan 16: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said Sindh which used to live mostly on overdraft not only paid back its Rs11.4 billion loans but also turned into a surplus province.

Recalling the ongoing swift pace of progress in different sectors, he referred to the 2006-07 budget in which out of total outlay of Rs193.1 billion, Rs52 billion were earmarked for development projects which was a record in the history of Sindh.

Dr Arbab, who was addressing a delegation of the National Defence Course participants at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday, briefed them regarding development projects and pointed out that about Rs17 billion had been released so far to different departments for implementation of uplift projects while Rs14 billion were given for special packages like Thar package.

The government had also increased the agriculture budget by 103 per cent while 50 per cent subsidy was provided on the installation of the tube wells.

Dr Arbab said the Sindh Seed Corporation had been reactivated for ensuring availability of certified seeds which would cost Rs80 million. This measure would help in boosting agriculture output from 30 to 40 per cent.

He also informed the delegation that the government had earmarked Rs57 million to continue with sprinkler/drop irrigation system in order to save 40 to 50 per cent water.

Responding to questions of course participants, he said the Sindh government was determined to curb corruption.

Regarding the controversy over two islands, he said the islands were the property of the Sindh government. However, he said, the Sindh government had also written to the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to protect the passage of fishermen and mangroves from damages.