KARACHI, Sept 24: The Sindh cabinet at its meeting here on Tuesday decided for regrouping of provincial departments.

Governor Mohammedmian Soomro presided over the meeting.

After the establishment of the new system of local governments following transfer of power from the province to district, Town and tehsil levels, new groups of departments have been formed while merging various provincial departments.

In this regard the committee, set up under additional chief secretary Shahzado Shaikh, presented on Tuesday its recommendations before the cabinet. The most important step was the merger of agriculture and irrigation departments.

The governor expressed the hope that as a result of this regrouping, there would be better coordination between the staff of agriculture and irrigation and their officials. It would have a positive impact on the promotion of agriculture as well as on providing facilities to farmers.

Another important decision was regarding merger of the department of archives with the information department.

The other departments regrouped as per the cabinet decision were as under:

(3) Forest, Wildlife and Food, (4) Cooperation and Finance, (5) Board of Revenue and Excise and Taxation, (6) Labour, Transport and Industries Departments, (7) Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs, (8) Population Welfare and Women Development, (9) Culture, Tourism, Sports and Youth Affairs, Education, (10) Home, S&GAD, (11) Auqaf, Zakat and Ushr, (12) Information Technology and (13) Environment and Alternative Energy. improvement in the quality of life of common man.

Mr Soomro said the past practice of loot and plunder and wastage of resources would not be allowed now. He asked the chief secretary to ensure timely and meaningful action against functionaries involved in corruption.

The meeting also discussed the law and order situation in the province.

Home Secretary Brig Mukhtar Ahmed (retd) and IG Police Syed Kamal Shah briefed the cabinet in this regard.

The governor and members of the cabinet expressed delight over the peaceful conduct of the Defence Exhibition IDEAS-2002 and appreciated the cooperation of the public, administration and police.

He said action against anti-social and anti-state elements and those involved in acts of terrorism should be made a normal practice. He called for effective use of intelligence network, of zoom cameras and surveillance from the air.

The governor praised the radio programme SOS broadcast every Saturday, and said other radio stations in the province should also air this programme. He said in this way people living in faroff areas too could come into contact with police and get their problems solved.

Mr Soomro issued instructions for immediate payment of compensation funds to the heirs of deceased police constables as well as award money to other people concerned.

The cabinet also reviewed the arrangements made for peaceful conduct of elections. Instructions were issued for providing facilities of food to policemen in a better way.

It was, however, emphasized that no offer of food for policemen from area influentials should be accepted.

The governor issued instructions for speedy disposal of surplus land of big residences of former commissioners, DCs and police officers. The proceeds from their sale could be spent on the welfare of the people.

The cabinet decided to bring the Board of Technical Education under the purview of the Sindh governor on the pattern of other Boards. The meeting was informed that the Board had been given under the education minister in 1994 on political grounds.

Chief Secretary K. B. Rind told the meeting that recent promotions of provincial officers were made purely on merit and as per regulations. He also informed the meeting about the auditing system. — APP