KARACHI, Nov 23: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has said effective steps have been taken for the security of life and property of every citizen including foreigner and situation in Karachi is normal since September 11 incidents in the US.

He was talking to a delegation of Pakistan-born Americans, led by Saghir A. Tahir of the State Assembly of New Hampshire, USA, who called on him at the Governor’s House on Friday.

The governor said there was no truth in apprehensions about situation in Karachi. “Friendly atmosphere exists in view of better law and order situation and economic activities,” he added.

Recently, he pointed out, the US ambassador and Japanese business executives had visited the province and found the situation here normal, which they acknowledged during their talks.

The governor appreciated the role of the Pakistanis living abroad, specially those in the US, and told the delegation members that they were the country’s ambassadors abroad.

Mr Soomro pointed out that contrary to the picture being painted by a section of the media, the facts were different and the situation in Karachi was conducive and normal.

He said a major part of the population supported the policies of President Pervez Musharraf considering that the steps were best for national unity, security, stability and progress of the country.

He expressed the hope that the delegation members, on return to the US, would convey the true picture about the situation in Pakistan and remove apprehensions in this respect.

The delegation members told the governor that they had come to the country as ambassadors of understanding so that the misconception, which had developed between the people of Pakistan and the US after the Sept 11 events, is removed for ever.

They informed that after the Sept 11 incidents, the US government and NGOs helped the Pakistanis and extended cooperation in the removal of misunderstandings and for ensuring security efforts.

Replying to queries of the delegation members, the governor said that steps had been taken for the establishment of investment-friendly environment in the province, whereby labour laws, inspection systems and necessary infrastructure had been ensured.

He said transparency was being adopted in every department and merit was being made a basis. All quotas, including the governor’s quota in admissions, postings and in other fields had been abolished, he added.—APP