KARACHI, Oct 17: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has said that the present government has openly discussed even the most sensitive issues, and provided conducive environment for developing reconciliation and understanding on these.

The understanding which existed between the provinces, as well as between the Centre and the provinces today, was not seen in the past, he added.

He was talking to the participants of the 24th PN Staff Course, led by the Course Commandant, Commander Agha Danish, who called on Dr Ibad at the Governor's House on Saturday.

The governor said that the government, while resolving the issues like that of water and the Finance Commission Award, through reconciliation, was also making them a source of greater understanding and national cohesion.

He said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf held open discussions on the issue of water at various levels.

To a query, the governor replied that effective coordination existed between the Sindh and federal governments, adding that on the directives of president and prime minister, the federal departments were also working for the development of Karachi, and Rs29 billion Taameer-i-Karachi programme was reflective of the efforts being made in this regard.

Dr Ibad said that Karachi was an important centre of the country, and it was being focused by everyone because its progress guaranteed the development and progress of the whole country.

He said it was necessary to identify the causes of poverty, adding that the rural areas of the province were more impoverished and they were solely dependent on agriculture. The irrigation and agriculture sectors were being streamlined on modern lines, he added.

He said that emphasis was also being laid on the provision of loans to small farmers, canal lining and judicious distribution of available water.

The governor informed the visitors that besides other sectors, coordinated efforts were also being made to provide low-cost housing facilities to the people. He said that some 32,000 allottees of Malir Housing scheme had been given possession of their plots, while work had also begun on Taisar Town project.

On the occasion, Senior Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed informed the PN delegation that this year Rs21 billion were being spent on various development schemes, which was higher by 33 per cent as compared to that in the last financial year.-APP