KARACHI, Nov 22: The Sindh Assembly was on Monday informed that residents of old goths in Karachi and the interior of the province would soon be given ownership rights.
The pledge was made by Revenue Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh while responding to a point raised by Mohammad Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement during the session chaired by Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana.
Mr Hussain had drawn the attention of the house to the situation where, he claimed, certain influential elements were busy in occupying village lands in Gadap and several other towns of Karachi, depriving the local residents of their right.
He alleged that original land records pertaining to the villages were being tampered with in connivance with revenue officials and even the relevant court orders were being flouted.
He suggested that a house committee be constituted to look into the matter and the concerned TPO and SHO be directed to ensure that no illegal occupation of land was resorted to.
The minister asked the member to give any specific instance so that action could be taken against those involved in such practices. Mr Shaikh assured the house that action would be taken if any irregularity in the record of the Board of Revenue was found.
Ms Bano Sagheer of the PPP-Patriot complained that for the last one month, residents of Malir had been receiving contaminated water due to which people were suffering from many diseases. She also accused the city government of laying defective sewerage lines, and said that people's problems would not be solved by just raising making flyovers.
The MQM's Fareeda Baloch also complained of the supply of contaminated water to Ali Mohammad Mohalla locality and accused the Lyari Town nazim of failing to resolve the problem.
Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad, contending that the point on which various members had spoken was not a 'point of order', requested the chair that the discussion, therefore, be expunged. However, the acting speaker, Rahila Tiwana ruled otherwise.
Responding to another point raised by Abdul Razzaq Rahmoo, home minister Rauf Siddiqui assured the house that those who had attacked the member's flat would soon be arrested.
Mr Rahmoo had complained that three persons had attacked his flat in Clifton and abducted his driver, who was later recovered. He also told the house that despite registration of an FIR and a lapse of more than 36 hours, no action against the attackers had been taken. He also identified the attackers.
The minister said that he had directed the Karachi CCPO for the arrest of the accused. Ms Sharfunnisa alleged that anti-social elements had targeted that building.
Farheen Ambareen of the MQM wanted to know the logic behind excavating portions of Jehangir Road, saying that the work had been causing inconvenience to public and represented incompetence of the city government. Nuzhat Pathan of the PPP raised the issue of neglected roads and sewerage system in Hyderabad, and demanded that the WASA's unqualified staff be removed.
QUESTION HOUR: Opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly on Monday objected to allowing the treasury benches to raise supplementary questions during question hour.
Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, in a written reply to a question raised by Humera Alvani of PPP said that there were more than 10,785 children suffering from Thalasaemia in Singh, and they were registered for treatment at various health facilities operated by governmental and non-governmental organizations.
The break-up of the figure showed that 60 patients were registered at the People's Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah, and 30 of them were getting regular treatment whereas others were defaulters.
The house was told that 143 patients were registered at the Chandka Medical College Hospital, Larkana, 350 at the Liaquat Medical University Hospital, Hyderabad, 54 at the Civil Hospital, Sukkur, 80 at the Civil Hospital, Badin, five at the Civil Hospital, Mirpurkhas, seven at the Civil Hospital, Sanghar, 350 at the Civil Hospital, Dadu, 40 at the PMCH, Nawabshah, 97 at T. H. Gambat, four at Civil Hospital, Khairpur, 35 at T. H. Badin, 100 were registered with an NGO working at Civil Hospital, Sukkur, 30 at the Sindh Government Lyari General Hospital, Karachi, five at Services Hospital Karachi (PWA), five at Civil Hospital, Karachi, and 10 at the Sindh Government Hospital, Saudabad.
About 5,200 were getting treatment through the Hussaini Blood Bank, another 3,100 from the Fatmid Blood Bank, and about 1,100 through the Pakistan Blood Bank. In reply to a question from Ms Sassui Palijo, the chief minister informed the house that only one TB centre existed in the Civil Hospital, Thatta, where 176 patients were treated as 'indoor' and 2,665 in OPD during the period from Nov 1, 2002 to Nov 1, 2003.
Besides, 4,667 patients were also treated in OPD during the same period at other centres, including the TB clinics in the THQs Sujawal, Jati, Mirpur Bathoro; the Shaikh Zaid Medical Centre Mirpur Sakro; and the RHCs in Gharo, Keti Bunder, Var, Jangshahi, Jherruk, Darro, Baghan and Chuhar Jamali.
Giving details of the sanctioned staff, he said only two medical and 15 non-medical officials were sanctioned for the centre. Of them, six from the non-medical staff were not actually working.
Replying to another question raised by Nasreen Chandio, he said that during 2003-2004, 1,700 vials of anti-snakebite vaccine were provided to tehsil headquarters Umarkot (Mirpurkhas), 7,277 vials to the health facilities of Tharparkar district up to August 2004, 875 to Thatta district and 260 to Badin district. No amount was charged from patients, he added.
Regarding facilities at the Nursing Training School (male) Jacobabad, he said the institution had been equipped with computer with printer, and demonstration room had sufficient audio-visual equipment, models and other utilities.
The chief minister further stated there was a shortage of books in the library. Under the ADP scheme 2004-05, approved by the health department, a sum of Rs20 million was allocated for upgradation of nursing schools, including the institution in question. Books and other required items would be provided as and when budget was released, he said.
After a query made by Asar Das D. Hemanani, the chief minister said that there were two taluka hospitals in Sukkur district - one in Rohri and the other in Pano Akil - whereas three taluka hospitals were working in Ghotki district - one each in Ghotki city, Ubarao and Mirpur Mathelo.