HYDERABAD, July 27 Sindh Chief Secretary Fazul Rehman has said that people of Bhit Shah will soon have all basic facilities at their doorsteps as the Rs120 million first phase of Bhit Shah Development Project is near completion.

Talking to journalists after laying a chador and offering fateha at the grave of great Sufi saint and poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai the official said that the first phase of the project was near completion and separate agencies and contractors had been engaged the development and beautification of the historical town.

He said that under the first phase a pipeline for supplying water had been laid from Lakhi minor up to Bhit Shah and now individual connections were being given to inhabitants.

In addition, the historical lake Karar had been rehabilitated and would be further improved by installing fountains and a raised stage beside its bank, he said, adding that rural health centre had been made functional and equipped with all facilities and a playground had been constructed.

Mr Rehman said that additional blocks with 28 class rooms and science and computer labs in boys and girls high school and intermediate college had also been constructed under the first phase.

He said that it would not only increase seating capacity but would also provide modern teaching facilities to students.

He said that he had directed the officers concerned to install a filter plant in the town to provide clean water to Karar lake and potable water to townspeople.

He said that the important work of health facilities had been completed by making the rural health centre functional and equipping it with all facilities.

The official said that work on the five-kilometre long water supply line had been completed and now house to house connections were being provided. About 550 connections had already been given and 3,500 more connections were yet to be provided, he said.

He said that Sindh government was taking keen interest in the development of the town and a PC-I (project cost) for the phase-II of Bhit Shah Development Project was on the anvil.

The revamping of drainage system with efficient water supply was very important and work in this regard had been included in phase-II, he said.

The chief secretary said that all departments engaged in development works were accountable to government as well as to people.

He said while talking to Sajjada Nashin Pir Mazhar Hussain Shah alias Nazan Sain that the provincial antiquity department would be asked to help in the rehabilitation of old tombs at the shrine. He would soon convene a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss and decide about different proposals in this regard, he said.

Earlier, Project Director Shafiqur Rehman Paracha said in a briefing that 95 per cent works had been completed. Karar lake and sub-surface water of the area had been converted into sweet and potable, he said.

Work on water supply had been completed and considerable improvement had been made in educational institutions, adding 28 class rooms with science, computer labs in the boys and girls high schools and college, he said.

Mr Paracha said that a nursery had also been developed and plantation of trees along both sides of the two-kilometre road from Hala to Khyber had been completed.

The chief secretary went around Bhit Shah town and inspected ongoing development works. He expressed satisfaction over the quality of work and directed the officers concerned to live up to the expectations of the people of Bhit Shah.