HYDERABAD, June 28: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has assured the district naib nazim that he will look into the matter of development funds that are bound to lapse this year.

According to Naib Nazim Nawab Rashid Ali Khan, who met the chief minister during his visit to Hyderabad on Sunday, Dr Rahim was briefed in detail about funds of 2003-04 Annual Development Programme schemes.

The naib nazim told the chief minister that funds of the ADP had also lapsed last year but the same were released after efforts by District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman. He said it had been noticed that funds were released quite late by the Sindh government that was why necessary paperwork could not be completed on time.

He said union council representatives were concerned about the issue. The chief minister told the naib nazim that he was aware of the matter. He invited Mr Khan to meet him in Karachi in this regard.

Meanwhile, a group of union council nazims met the district nazim at his office on Saturday to discuss development funds of Rs1.3 million of each union council. The nazim assured them that he would try to save money for these works from different heads.

LAW AND ORDER: Responding to journalists' questions at the Niaz Stadium after attending sermons at the Masjid-i-Noor in Wahdat Colony, the chief minister said people involved in criminal activities would be taken to task.