KARACHI, Dec 4: Sindh Governor Muhammadmian Soomro has stated that the government is pursuing a policy of merit and transparency in all fresh appointments.

He said so far 1,500 ASIs and 3,500 teachers had been given fresh appointments after their selection either through the public service commission or non-governmental committees in case of those serving in lower grades to ensure merit and transparency.

Governor Soomro, who had thrown an Iftar-dinner party for senior journalists and editors on Monday at the Governor’s House, in reply to a question told Dawn that even after their selection, their performance during the training period would be monitored, and if at any stage, their progress was found unsatisfactory, they stand dropped even during training.

To another question, Mr Soomro said the doctors who were given appointments on an ad hoc basis were absorbed on a permanent basis only when they appeared in the public service commission and passed the examination. Those who failed could not be accommodated on any consideration.

He said the government may consider providing them another chance but could not bypass the commission.

Regarding property tax, he said that the property tax had been revised after 33 years and was revised not only in the city but in the entire province.

Earlier, talking to senior journalists and editors informally, the governor said the new local government system despite its teething problems, had been working well, as the entire system had been replaced. It would certainly take some time before people could fully get acquainted with it.

Mr Soomro said all funds put at the disposal of the provincial government for implementation of development projects, had been disbursed, but as the government itself had been facing financial constraints, the entire demand of Nazims could not be met for want of funds.

Regarding transport problems, the governor said the transporters had voluntarily revised the fares in view of the falling prices of petroleum and its products.

He dispelled the impression of having any say in revising the transport fares, saying that the prices of fuel now were being revised by a committee.

He said law and order situation in the province was comparatively better now but there was still enough room for a further improvement.

He was asked if he had received any list of the Taliban who had crossed over to Afghanistan from the province, the governor’s reply was in the negative.

He also stated that from the Taliban’s office in Karachi, which had been sealed, no objectionable material was found.