LARKANA, Aug 8: The District Council, Larkana, in its session on Thursday, unanimously approved a package of development schemes worth Rs441.8 million to be completed within three years against the block allocation of Rs87.195 million.
The development schemes’ package was presented by the district Nazim, Khursheed Ahmed Junejo.
Dilating on the salient features of the package, Mr Khursheed said with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Assistance Programme around 329 kms of roads will be either constructed or improved with the thrust on connecting the Kachho with the cemented road of Larkana District.
He said that this would not only help in tapping the gas and oil reserves in this belt but also revolutionize people’s life.
He said that under the Drought Emergency Relief Assistance Programme a network of 25 kms of roads would also be constructed in Kambar, Shahdadkot, and Warah Talukas, which includes a bridge over the Hamal Lake that would cost Rs75 million.
The Nazim said out of 2,600 schools in the district, more than 900 primary schools did not have buildings, and keeping in view the situation the district government had proposed to spend Rs87 million on constructing new buildings and renovating others.
He lamented that many school buildings in the district had either been converted into “Autaqs or Maikhanas”.
He asked the Nazims of 80 union councils in the district to constitute a citizens community board in the light of the Local Government Ordinance within a fortnight so that a matching grant could be obtained from the government to initiate new schemes.
Speaking about the package, Abdul Qadir Sangi, Mukhtiar, Khichi, and Ms Khursheed Begum Khatyan pointed towards the substandard development work carried out in Larkana where favouritism and nepotism overshadowed the quality of work coupled with inefficient supervisors.
They said payment had been made in advance and the work had not been completed as yet.
The session was chaired by Athar Abbas Solangi.
PROTEST HELD: The Watandost Mazdoor Federation (WMF) took out a protest demonstration on Thursday against the non-payment of salaries to government employees in Sindh province.