KARACHI - Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the government is spending public money on development schemes for people’s welfare; therefore, it becomes its responsibility to spend honestly and work honestly.
Presiding over a meeting here at the CM House on Saturday on development schemes being completed under the provincial as well as district ADP, the CM asserted, “This should be the criteria to execute development works.”
“I am an engineer by profession, and can assess quality of a development work. You cannot hoodwink me,” he said, and adding, “I would personally visit the under-construction schemes hardly on a two-hour notice and will take strict action against those found dishonest.”
He directed the secretaries, Work & Services and Irrigation Departments to tell their engineers to ensure quality of work and not to leave their areas without informing the concerned commissioners and without the permission of their respective secretaries.
Murad also banned the visit of XENs of P&D and finance departments. “Let them focus on their work, and it is not their responsibility to modify or revise their schemes or get the funds released for their schemes,” he said categorically.
He asked the chief secretary to stop assigning more tasks to an engineer in Irrigation and Works & Service departments. “This is a wrong policy that gives the impression of nepotism and also affects the performance of engineers badly,” the CM noted. “One engineer should be made responsible only for the position where he is posted,” he said, and stated, “This is a policy decision.”
The CM expressed the concern that despite release of online funds by the finance department, the district treasuries had not passed them on.
To this Hyderabad Commissioner Qazi Shahid Pervez gave a clarification that the treasuries released funds when they received a certified copy, issued by the finance department. Taking a policy decision, the CM directed the finance department to abolish the condition of presenting a certified copy.
It was pointed out that the schemes launched under district ADP of Rs25 billion had not been executed properly.
The CM asked the commissioners to monitor each and every scheme; right from conception to execution, so that quality could be maintained.
He also urged them to keep visiting the under-construction schemes of provincial ADP. Murad also ordered that the concerned deputy commissioner be also engaged in the inspection work.
The meeting was informed that maintenance & repair (M&R) budget worth Rs8.5 billion had been announced for roads and buildings in the province.
The chief minister noted with concern that the budget was not being spent sagaciously. He asked the secretaries and commissioner to keep an eye on the utilisation of M&R budget. The CM made it clear that every commissioner must have complete data of the schemes. “They should be knowing when the repair work had started and what difference it has made after its completion,” he asserted.
Murad said that he had already assigned his cabinet members the duty to visit development schemes in progress anywhere in the province. “I have made them bound to visit schools, hospitals and other such welfare-oriented centres so that the government departments could prove to be public-welfare departments,” he added. Larkana Commissioner Inam Dharejo pointed out increase in accidents on the Indus Highway, adding the increase was due to the highway being a carriageway. He said that cargo traffic had also increased, expressing fear that it would reduce the highway’s life.
The CM directed Chief Secretary Siddique Memon and his Principal Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch to coordinate with NHA. When reminded by Sukkur Commissioner Abbas Baloch, the chief minister sad that work on Kumber-Nawabshah road would start soon.
Murad directed all the divisional commissioners to get the SNE of completed health and education schemes from the finance department.
“The scheme which has been completed must be made functional at the earliest,” he ordered.
REHMAN MALIK MEETS CM
Standing Committee of Senate on Interior Chairman Rahman Malik called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here at CM House on Saturday.
They discussed law and order situation and recent political developments in the city. Also came under discussion were the party issues.
Malik congratulated the CM on organising a ‘mammoth’ public rally of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in the city on October 16.
CHINESE INVESTORS MEET CM
An eight-member delegation of Chinese investors, led by Mr Liu Guoqiang, President Sichuan Investment Group, also met Murad here and discussed investment opportunities in the energy sector, with particular reference to wind and solar energy.
The chief minister informed that there was a vast wind corridor at Jhimpir, which had the potential of producing 50,000 MW energy.
“Similarly, Sindh has different corridors of solar energy where you can invest,” he told the Chinese.
He asked Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Wasim to coordinate with the investors and arrange their meetings with line departments for necessary action and facilitation.