LARKANA, Jan 13: As many as 1,400 constables will be recruited in the Sukkur range police and a committee, already set up with the regional police officer as its head, will begin the process in a week.

This was said by Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar here on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting of the police officers on law and order situation in the district.

He said that 1,100 vehicles would shortly be added in the police fleet to provide more transport facilities to the police. Later talking to notables at circuit house, the CM warned the sugar mill owners to halt paying low prices to the sugarcane growers. The growers told him that the mill owners were paying Rs8 to RS10 less than that of the fixed price for 40kg sugarcane.

In a meeting with the district Nazim and executive district officers, the chief minister promised to extend maximum financial support to complete the incomplete development schemes in Larkana district.

He announced Rs1.5 million for the repair and renovation of local circuit house. During a briefing by the health EDO, Mr Mahar hinted at appointing a medical officer to look after three basic health units in Larkana and Ghotki district on the pattern of the Punjab government. If the idea proved to be successful, Mr Mahar said, it would be extended to the entire province.

Later he told journalists that the Larkana police had been given 15 days time to improve law and order situation in the district. He said that half of the MPAs, who had opposed him, had now returned to his camp.

Avoiding a question about the absence of Sindh Revenue Minister Atlaf Hussain Unnar despite being in Larkana, the chief minister said, "better ask him about his absence."

When his attention was drawn towards the information placed on Internet about the nonexistent digging of 500 tube-wells and construction of 2,900 watercourses in Sindh, he said that he would look into the matter.

On Wednesday, the chief minister would meet SNF chief Mumtaz Ali Bhutto in Mirpur Bhutto and PPP leader Nawab Shabir Ahmed Chandio in Kambar, sources said.