HYDERABAD, July 20: Sindh local government minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Raheem has directed the DCO of Hyderabad to expand the phase-III and IV schemes of the Khushhal Pakistan Programme pertaining to the city of Hyderabad.

He was speaking at a meeting with Nazims and councillors of the city at the residence of a local SDA leader, Syed Shakir Ali Jafri, here on Friday.

The elected representatives presented the problems of their constituencies with emphasis on provision of proprietary rights to the residents of the Kutcha Abadis of the city, improvement in water supply and sewerage system, anti-malaria spray in slums and improvement in the condition of the minority graveyard at Tando Yousuf, which was submerged in dirty water.

The minister directed the local government administration to begin a cleanliness campaign at union council level and destroy the breeding ponds of mosquitoes.

He warned that the disciplinary action would be taken against town municipal officers who were found lethargic and inefficient.

MEETS DELEGATION: A delegation of the affected people of Pucca Qila called upon the local bodies minister and complained to him that they were being shifted to the outskirt of the city at Ganjo Takkar in the quarters which were constructed 25 years back.

The delegation, led by Zakir bin Zahid, president, Anjuman Tajiran-i-Sindh, said that they were asked to pay Rs35,000 per quarter. They said this was unacceptable to the affected families as no basic facility was available there.

The delegation said that a former deputy commissioner of Hyderabad had decided that the affected families would be allotted 60 yards’ plot each inside Pucca Qila but after the introduction of the local government system the order had been cancelled.

The local bodies minister is reported to have issued instructions to the secretary, local government, to restore the order and ensure that the affected families were rehabilitated in Pucca Qila premises.

A dilapidated portion of Pucca Qila wall had collapsed on three occasions resulting in casualties and displacement of some families.

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