HYDERABAD, April 12: The Naib Nazim, Hyderabad District, and Convener District Council Nawab Rashid Ali Khan on Friday said that a package of Rs3 billion had been recommended by the district government to President Pervez Musharraf for the betterment of the city and social welfare of the people.

He demanded the government to create a City Government comprising three talukas — one for City, one for Latifabad, and one for Qasimabad.

Speaking at a news conference at the Council Hall, Mr Rashid said that a number of schemes had been launched whereas several others were in the pipeline for the sewerage and supply of drinking water for the people of Hyderabad. He added that the Sindh governor had given a grant of Rs500 million to the city.

Taluka City Nazim Haji Moeenuddin Sheikh and Taluka Latifabad Nazim Abdul Jabbar Khan also spoke on the occasion.

He said that the city government should be created because it had a population of more than one million, which was mandatory for any city government under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance.

Previously, he recalled, the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation used to look after the civic affairs of three sub-divisions, while the District Council had been looking after the rural areas of the district.

He pointed out that efforts for the resumption of flights from the Hyderabad Airport were also being made.

He admitted that the results of various development schemes had not yet been seen but the people would soon get the benefit of such schemes.

About the referendum and scheduled meeting of President Musharraf on April 26, he said that referendum activities had gained momentum over the last couple of days in the city.

He said that he was coordinating with the talukas of the city, Latifabad and Qasimabad, while the district Nazim would work in collaboration with the other five talukas — Hala, Matiari, Tando Mohammed Khan, Hyderabad Taluka, and Tando Allahyar.

The Qasimabad Taluka Nazim, Noor M. Shoro, who was elected with the support of the PPP’s Awam Dost Panel in partyless LB polls, was conspicuous by his absence. He believed that all the Nazims and councillors would support President Musharraf. Mr Rashid said that three big rallies had been planned in the city.

He informed that Federal Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider would attend one such meeting in Latifabad on April 15 which was being organized by the Taluka Latifabad Council Nazim, Abdul Jabbar Khan.

The Naib Nazim said that he had not received any complaint that any group or political party was trying to sabotage the referendum campaign because all the local bodies’ representatives were acting without any political bias.