KARACHI  - PPP Central Deputy Information Secretary and Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon has claimed that the present government has carried out development works including mega projects in Sindh worth Rs58.90 billion during last five years.
Talking to media persons here at his office on Monday, he said that development projects have been executed both in highway sector as well as the buildings sector. He said that Works & Service Department of Sindh constructed 5,726 kilometre new roads, rehabilitated 2,968 kilometres existing roads while 198 bridges have also been built in various districts of the province. He said that the PPP is committed to public service.
Memon said that these projects have not only contributed to the development of the province but also improving the living conditions of the common people.
He added, "The present government launched Public Private Partnership Programme in road sector and built Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Dual Carriageway of 58.7 km. Under same programme, Jhirk-Mullah Katiar Bridge is also being constructed with the cost of Rs1,093.75 million, Hyderabad-Tando Muhammad Khan Road of 51 kilometres and Karachi-Thatta Dual carriageway are being also taken up under this programme. 
Furthermore, about 1,900 km roads devastated during 2010 floods were rehabilitated at the cost of Rs554 million and reconstruction of about 950 km roads with the assistance of ADB soft loan of 131.0 million dollars have also been carried out besides 665 km roads constructed on the proposals of members of provincial assembly at the cost of Rs2,653 million.
Sharjeel Inam Memon said Rs2,408 million have been spent on construction of 90 kilometres of coastal highway from Ghaghar Phatak to Keti Bunder. Sindh Works & Services Department has also constructed 30 kilometres of Thatta-Sujawal Road under the Asian Development Bank assistance while 134 kilometres Nawabshah-Padidan-Ranipur Road is also being constructed under foreign assistance, and with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency, another 500 kilometres of Rural Access Roads costing Rs8875.19 million are also being constructed, he concluded.
Meanwhile, UK Islamic Mission would install 117 hand pumps in different remote areas of Pakistan in collaboration with Al-Khidmat, while Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Canada would help digging 19 wells in water-deficient areas, said Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan President Dr Hafeezur Rehman.
Addressing a meeting to review water supply related projects, he said a lot of remote areas of the country are deprived of the facility of potable water and Al-Khidmat has initiated various projects to ensure supply of drinking water to poor people.
On the occasion, the plan for the year 2013 was discussed threadbare. The meeting was told that the UK Islamic Mission and ICNA Canada has signed accords with Al-Khidmat Foundation for digging water wells, provision of hand pumps and other related facilities.
Hafeezur Rehman asked to redouble efforts to complete these projects at the earliest, ensuring transparency and quality of work.