KARACHI, Aug 6: The chief minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, has said Pakistan is like a bouquet, colourful flowers in which are fascinating the whole society with their rich ascent.

"Through brotherhood, sincerity, and truthfulness, we can achieve progress and prosperity," he said, while talking to a 14-member group of MNAs, led by MNA Umer Zeb Tiwana at the Chief Minister's House.

Dr Arbab said that cohesion and religious harmony among the people of all four provinces in the country was need of the hour. He informed the MNAs about the priorities and programmes of his government and highlighted the efforts made for establishment of law and order, just distribution of water, investment and elimination of unemployment.

He said President Pervez Musharraf had announced a special package for Karachi and Hyderabad for which the provincial government had allocated Rs1,000 million to supplement the federal government contribution.

Arbab informed that Rs60 million had been earmarked for the Mass Transit Plan in Karachi. While, he said that the Sindh government, with the cooperation of the Asian Development Bank, would provide Rs5.742 billion in the next three years to the local government department for improving the health and education facilities, supply of drinking water, sewerage, poverty alleviation, and fighting gender discrimination.

The MNA was informed that Rs22 million were being spent for the renovation of the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai which would be completed next year while two new small industrial estates would be established this year in Mithi and Naushahro Feroze.

The delegation included MNAs Nazir Ahmed Jatt, Khurram Mian, Tariq Ayub Khakwani, Salahuddin, Anjum Irshad Suhail and Iqbal Patel. Provincial minister Nadir Akmal Leghari and advisor Aijaz Shah Shirazi were also present.

Meanwhile, the chief minister taking notice of snake bite incidents and subsequent deaths, as well as, shortage of anti-venom serum in the province, has directed the chief secretary to take immediate steps in this regard.

In his directive to the chief secretary, Arbab said that he was informed by the federal Health minister that the required serum had been supplied to the Sindh government by the latter, after he came to know of the situation in Tharparkar. The chief minister directed that these medicines be immediately sent to the areas facing shortage. - APP