KARACHI, Dec 28: The law and order situation in the province was reviewed at a meeting of district Nazims, DCOs and officers concerned here on Saturday.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of development schemes.

Chief Secretary K. B. Rind presided over the meeting.

The chief secretary said criticism, complaints and suggestions and even personal criticism were welcome for the cause of promotion of mutual cooperation between provincial government departments and the district governments as well for the sake of progress and prosperity of the province.

He said the service being rendered at the level of district for the overall development of the province, through mutual cooperation of Nazims, provincial secretaries and DCOs of district governments would have a good effect.

He asked the authorities concerned to take steps for the posting of DCOs, EDOs and other officials in accordance with rules and regulations.

On the complaints of some of the Nazims, Mr Rind asked the secretary environment to visit Hyderabad, Dadu, Larkana and other districts and take steps to check the harmful effects caused by disposal of chemical waste of industries.

He asked the secretary agriculture to hold meetings with sugar mill owners and sugarcane farmers to solve their farming and sugar cess-related problems.

The chief secretary drew the meeting’s attention to complaints about kidnappings and robberies at interprovincial borders.

In this regard, he said, a high-level meeting would be held on Dec 30 which would also be attended by the chief secretary and the IG Balochistan.

At the meeting permanent deployment of “border police” and an effective strategy would be considered to curb crime.

Mr Rind asked the secretaries home, local government and Nazims to make “15” Helpline and the Madadgar Force functional so that law and order at the local level was improved.

The home secretary was instructed to hold meetings of Nazims and DCOs and take steps for ensuring order.

The meeting reviewed the progress in respect of the Khushhal Pakistan Programme, Northern Bypass, Lyari Expressway, RBOD-II, K-III project, Village Electrification Programme, Drought-hit Areas Relief Programme (DERA), Annual Development Programme and other important schemes.

The meeting was informed that the Faisal Colony flyover project would be completed by April 2003. Preliminary arrangements for work on the Gora Qabristan and Shahrah-i-Quaideen flyovers had been completed.

Additional Chief Secretary Finance Fazlur Rahman said a revision of the Provincial Finance Commission was under consideration so that district, Taluka and UC Nazims were also included it.

Additional Secretary Shahzado Shaikh told the meeting that effective steps were necessary for timely completion of schemes and also to finalize the release of funds for more development programmes.

Secretary Education Nazar Mohammed Mahar briefed the meeting on reforms in the education sector.

Nazim Karachi Naimatullah Khan, Nazim Hyderabad Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, Nazim Khairpur Nafisa Shah Jilani, AIG Asad Jehangir, Home Secretary Aslam Sanjrani and DCO Karachi Shafiqur Rahman Paracha also spoke at the meeting. — APP