KARACHI, March 18: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar has said that the provincial cabinet would be expanded further in the due course of time. Talking to newsmen after the oath-taking ceremony of two new ministers at the Governor House on Thursday, the chief minister said that three or four more ministers would be inducted in the provincial cabinet.

However, he made it clear that no minister in the existing provincial cabinet would lose job. He said that two new ministers had taken oath of office and there was still room for induction of some more ministers.

Ali Mahar pointed out that increasing number of people were joining the ruling coalition in the province. He said, "We intend to bring in good people in the provincial cabinet."

He said that the expansion in the provincial cabinet had been made through consultation. He further said that the portfolios of the ministers might be changed if a need was felt.

Recalling that there were 28 ministers in the provincial cabinet when the total strength of the House was 110, the chief minister said that the total strength of the provincial assembly members was 168 at present and as such there was a room for expanding the cabinet to 40.

Meanwhile, the chief minister said that the government would frame a strategy to avoid atta crisis in future. He said that the present situation regarding shortage of flour would soon be improved with the arrival of new crops.

He said that the cases of the officials, involved in the atta crisis, would immediately be referred to the National Accountability Bureau. About law and order in the province, he said, efforts were being made to further improve the conditions in the days ahead.

He referred to the peaceful observance of Moharram in this regard. The cricket match between Pakistan and India, which was played recently in a very peaceful manner, also indicated the efforts being made by the government.

He also expressed delight that the Karachi Stock Exchange crossed the 5,000 point psychological barrier on Thursday. "I am very happy on this and today I will go there to congratulate them," he added.

The chief minister that there seemed to be a great deal of interest for investment in Karachi. He said that this all indicated that usual hustle bustle was returning in the metropolis.

PLANTATION: The chief minister has stressed on proper utilization of all available resources to make the plantation campaign a success that has been launched in the pretext of Spring. He directed the city district government to plant at least 10,000 plants of Sarkaindeka along all the important arteries of the city, particularly Sharea Faisal.