KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that during last 12 years, government was facing multiples challenges such as worst law and order, floods of 2010 and 2011, Coid-19 and now floods of 2022 despite fact that government had contributed a lot in provincial as well as national development.

A 75-member delegation of Security Workshop-24 of National Defence University (NDU) led by Brigadier Tariq Niaz, Minister for Information Sharjeel Memon, Minister for Local Government Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Chairman P&D Hassan Naqvi, Home Secretary Saeed Mangnijo, PSCM Fayaz Jatoi and other concerned secretaries were present.

CM said that when PPP came into power in 2008, there was worst law and order situation in province and this was first and foremost challenge for provincial government.  He said that Afghan war was also responsible for terrorism, therefore a National Action Plan (NAP) was launched under which targeted operation was initiated which produced best results.

He said that investments in Karachi have remained high on agenda for undertaking development activities for infrastructure and services.  Shah said that 150 km of roads were constructed through 73 major projects along with storm water drains, 14 flyovers/ underpasses/ bridges on major roads. Four Bus Rapid Transport, 31 major schemes for water supply and sewerage systems and 28 major schemes for health and education infrastructure were in progress.

Coal mining and installation of power plant projects started for transportation of machinery to Thar was a big challenge, therefore government constructed Sujawal Bridge on River Indus. Nooriabad power project in which his government had shares was providing uninterrupted 100 MW electricity to Karachi.  CM said that he has been working on providing infrastructure to education institutions for quality education and increased enrolment; improving and upgrading health facilities, managing available health institutions, increasing agricultural productivity and value chain. According to CM, higher poverty rates with national poverty rate estimated to increase by 3.7 to 4.0 percent, pushing between 8.4 and 9.1 million people into poverty. He said that poverty in Sindh increased by between 8.9 and 9.7 percent.

Sindh is the most affected province, contributing 72 percent of total value of damage and losses registered in sector, CM said and added Sindh sustained highest damage in forest sector, amounting to Rs 1.8 billion representing 77 percent of total forest damages.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 04 2022

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.