KARACHI, Aug 24: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro has said his government’s strategic areas of highest priority are to accelerate the development of rural economy, enhanced development of agricultural sector according to the national agricultural policy aimed at competing with the international market and productive employment for the youth.

“These are very judicious programmes and the government is complimented for its sagacity and farsightedness,” the governor said in an interview to this news agency on Saturday.

He said the main objective of the government was to focus on a durable and self-sustaining economic development strategy based on social equity.

The province of Sindh, he said, is fortunate to have a very solid and strong industrial base and port facilities. This has enabled it to be the largest revenue provider to the national exchequer.

The provincial government is dedicated to the cause of a massive industrialization so that the country can be a powerhouse in the global market, he added.

The government has reactivated the provincial committee on investment and is making it more effective; re-promulgated the privatization ordinance and the privatization commission has been energetic in its work, he maintained.

He referred to the developments made in the IT sector through the Sindh IT Board, beautification of coastal areas and to make them productive and profitable, besides developing areas that are the must-visit sights for international tourists.

Speaking about law and order situation, the governor pointed out that with all its challenges the situation was improving and this has been manifested by an accepted decline in the crime rate.

Mr Soomro said the recent upsurge in industrial activity in Karachi was a testimony to the improvement in the investment climate and “we are sure that the momentum would be more rapid in the months to come.”

“We are creating one-window operation for collection of various taxes and duties, while at the same time we have reduced the number of taxes in our province,” he said, adding that these actions of the government had already borne fruit and had been commended by the industrial and business community too.

To a question about tourism potentials, Mr Soomro said the # government desired to expand its tourist base and provide more amenities and recreational areas for foreign as well as domestic tourists.

“We have a centuries-old culture that is universally recognized. We have Moenjodaro and Bhambore; we have shrine of sufis and saints; we have traditional music that is spiritual and soothing, and we have forests and parks that are spectacular”.

Sindh government, he said, wanted to develop the interior of the province too on a top priority basis. It has a solid agriculture base and thus corporate farming is feasible and profitable.

The province is endowed with coal reserves in Thar, Sonda and Lakhra, that are being developed on a priority basis. There are lots of reserves of oil and gas and the government’s new thermal policy is attractive for all investors.

“Our aim is to make this province a better place to work, to invest and to live,” the governor said.—APP