0
HYDERABAD, Feb 7: Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar said on Friday that the ban on employment will be lifted within a month.
He said this while answering a question about the rampant unemployment leading to suicides at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme organized by the Hyderabad Press Club.
Referring to the refusal of the multinational companies to employ local people, the chief minister said that he had convened a meeting of the multinational companies after Eid-ul-Azha where the matter would be discussed threadbare.
Dispelling the impression that he was only a de jure chief executive of the province while the de facto chief executive was the Sindh governor, he said that he had full powers vested in the office of the chief minister and the Sindh governor was an ally and had his own functions to perform.
He said that he was aware that Hyderabad, being the second largest metropolis of the province, was confronted by many problems, including that of the drainage system.
Mr Mahar said that he would soon approach the federal government to announce a special package for Hyderabad, Sukkur and Karachi, adding that beautification programmes would also be launched in these cities.
He said that he had decided to undertake an exhaustive tour of all the districts in Sindh.
Mr Mahar said that he was holding meetings with MPAs and Nazims, adding that they had identified problems in their respective areas.
Referring to the settlement of the people, affected by the Tarbela Dam in Sindh, Thar canal and the acute shortage of water, he said that he was leaving for Lahore tomorrow and he would discuss these issues with the Punjab chief minister, Chaudhry Pervez Illahi.
Referring to the indefinite deployment of rangers in Sindh, the chief minister said that the members of the diplomatic corps had to be provided protection after the September 11 incident, therefore, the rangers had to stay.
When asked about the extent of expenditure on rangers, the chief minister declined to comment, saying that he did not have accurate figures in this regard with him.
He told a questioner that a border force would be deployed along the Punjab-Sindh border to control crimes, similar to the force deployed along the Sindh-Balochistan border.
He announced a grant of Rs500,000 for the press club, saying that the target of Rs1.5 million would be met in phases.
Later the chief minister attended a luncheon at the Magsi House, given by MPA Irfan Gul Magsi and addressed a sizable gathering there.
Meanwhile, speaking at a public meeting in Latifabad, Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Khan Mahar announced that Hyderabad Airport would soon be reopened for air traffic.
The Chief Minister announced the approval of SNE for the appointment of staff and provision of equipments for the Qasimabad Hospital besides announcing the approval for a water supply scheme and a girls’ high school for Tando Jam.
MEETS DELEGATIONS: In the meantime, the Sindh Chief Minister met a number of delegations at the Circuit House.
While talking with the delegation of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said that steps would be taken to overcome the problems, confronting the regional trade and industry, on a priority basis.
He directed the Cane Commissioner, Sindh, to ensure payment of government-fixed price to the sugarcane growers and report to him if any excesses were committed against the growers.
A delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, including provincial advisor for finance Aftab Ahmad Shaikh, MNA Prof Khalid Wahab and several MPAs, also called on the chief minister.
Later, the chief minister inaugurated the intensive care unit and the Invasive Cardiology Centre at the Liaquat Medical University Hospital here.
He also met with the a delegation of doctors appointed on contract basis and assured them regarding announcement of a decision for the regularisation of their services soon.
