KARACHI, March 6: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has stressed on completion of all ongoing development schemes within the specified time frame and said that facilities thereof should reach the people.

He was presiding over a meeting held at the Governor House on Saturday in which he had an appraisal about the details of these schemes and issued various directives for achievement of better results.

The governor said that mere utilization of funds and construction of buildings was not the objective. The schemes should be functional and operational, he said. He called for transparent and prudent utilization of allocated funds and the pace of progress should be accelerated.

Referring to the schemes of educational institutions, hospitals, roads and water supply, he directed that performance should not be restricted to papers, but must be visible on ground.

Dr Ibad stressed on effective and visible improvement in the elementary education schemes and directed that monitoring in the education sector should be result-oriented. He also issued directive regarding teacher's training and their regular attendance in educational institutions.

He called for continued action against ghost organizations and teachers. In this regard, he emphasized upon a transparent salary system alongwith deriving benefit out of the same.

Reviewing the affairs in health sector, the governor particularly took notice of North Karachi Children Hospital and health facilities in the interior of Sindh.

He directed that the system of purchase of medical equipments and medicines throughout the province should be made transparent.

Secretary Health Ashiq Hussain Memon informed the meeting that this year 164 schemes - 46 provincial level schemes and 118 district level schemes - had been chalked out.

Secretary Education Ghulam Ali Pasha said that 29 schemes were chalked out in education sector at provincial level and 27.3 per cent of the funds released had been utilized till the end of January 2004.-APP