THATTA, Aug 9: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said a feasibility report is being prepared for developing a marine drive in addition to the under-construction coastal highway.

Talking to journalists at the Makli circuit house here on Sunday night, he said these projects, on being completed, would be of immense benefit to commuters in the coastal belt.

He said the projects would also serve as embankments against sea water which had inundated over 1.2 million acres of fertile lands in deltaic regions of Thatta and Badin districts.

The chief minister said he had directed administrations of coastal districts to beef up vigilance to control influx of foreigners. Referring to terrorist activities in Karachi, he said he could not name which group was responsible for the recent blasts.

He said Karachi was a big city, having a large number of illegal immigrants, and it was difficult to know hideouts of criminals but in his capacity as the chief minister he was obliged to take maximum steps for ensuring peace in the province.

He said his government was making efforts to curb terrorist activities in Sindh. The chief minister said the matter of deporting the illegal immigrants was to be decided by the federal government.

When asked about the army operation in Balochistan, he said Gen Pervez Musharraf's government had remained cautious, bold and calculated while taking any action and believed in political dialogue.

On the issue of giving priority to local people in allotment of fishing contracts, he said he would consider the matter if it was submitted to him. About development of the Keenjhar Lake, he said a plan was being prepared to make the lake a better recreation and picnic site. He said this would generate huge revenue.

Dr Rahim directed the DCO not to recruit outsiders in the district. He denied illegal allotment of land to relatives of former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali in the Thatta district.

Earlier, District Nazim Syed Shafqat Hussain Shah Shirazi, Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Heer Soho, adviser to the chief minister on forests, Aijaz Shah Shirazi, MNA Ayaz Shah Shirazi and MNA Mohammad Ali Malkani discussed important issues of the district with the chief minister.