The government of Sindh is building a new Sindh Secretariat at astronomical cost of Rs. 6 billions on an area measuring a full 19 acres. The proposed giant complex would be constructed on both sides of the Sindh High Court Building, comprising two fifteen story towers and six smaller units. The provincial Minister for Services &Works, who is also the convener of the project, while revealing the details said the new Secretariat Complex would the most modern faculties and a state-of-the-art security system. But the Sindh Secretariat is already functioning in five main blocks of multistorey buildings and numerous barracks spread over both sides of the Sindh High Court. One fails to comprehend why should the government need to spend this fantastic sum of money while it is adequately served by this series of huge complexes that are enough to cater for even its future needs? As the government is determined to build the new complex, it would probably go ahead with it despite public protestation of 'utter waste. But this new scheme is gargantuan in its proposed form and would definitely take a long time to complete. Looking at the past record of the provincial Works Department, it reputation for inefficiency and corruption, it is realistic to expect that the Rs. 6 billions allocated for the project would probably escalate many times over due to cost overruns. The buildings built by the Works Department in the province, by the way, are also the worst possible examples of bad architecture executed with shoddy workmanship. Moreover, the 'building pains during the construction period (as it stretches longer and longer) would be enormous for the public. The visitors, especially those coming from remote areas of the province for getting their grievances resolved, would suffer the agony of being humiliated around town as departments presently located in barracks would be move to other available places in the city to facilitate construction. Besides, a set of multistorey complexes in the a few open spaces left in the city would add another eyesore to the unfortunate Karachi. I hope that looking to grim scenario of finances of the province, non-productivity of the scheme and its adverse impact on environment and city life, most important of all, in view of the difficulties it might cause for people of the province for many long years, the Chief Minister Sindh would review his decision. The funds allocated for the scheme may be utilized for education and health, or for the most neglected social sectors, that deserve far more attention of the government than this vanity project. -S. AHMED, Canada, March 9.