Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said his government was committed to bring less developed areas of the province at par with the developed urban areas.
Talking to a 100-member delegation of National Defence College Islamabad, who met him last night at the Chief Minister's House, Arbab gave credit to President General Pervez Musharraf for launching the projects, which would ensure sustainable development in the province.
To a question with regard to delay in exploitation of Thar Coal reserves, he informed that the concerned Chinese Company and Wapda were yet to settle tariff-related issue. Moreover, non-availability of water also constitutes a problem, but said that President General Pervez Musharraf would soon convene a meeting to resolve the problems.
Regarding visible disparity of economic uplift in rural and urban areas of the province, the chief minister said that living pattern in the rural areas was still traditional where people live at scattered places, which could not be developed under an integrated development plan.
He said that a lot of development activities had been taken place in remote and less developed areas, adding that remote towns like Mithi and Nagarparkar in Thar desert had been connected with road network, electricity had been provided and the people have cell telephone facilities, which were not available even five years ago. He said that at least one basic health unit had been established at every Union Council level and hoped that with the passage of time more development activities would take place.
Sindh Chief Secretary Fazal Rehman, Home Secretary, Secretary Local government, IG police, DCO Karachi and officials of planning and development department briefed the participants about the devolution plan, possible impact on demographic and economic situation in the province in the wake of opening the Khokhrapar-Monabao border and problems faced by the people of Karachi.
Chief secretary informed the officers that in many districts of the province, the devolution plan had yielded positive results owing to the leadership provided by the district nazims.
The DCO Karachi informed the participants that use of desalination project in Karachi was being given a serious thought.
Regarding pressing problems facing citizens in Karachi, the DCO told the visiting delegation that transport problem, provision of drinking water and drainage system constitute major problems.
He added that with the financial assistance of the federal government two mega projects i-e the Lyari expressway and the Northern bypass were on the way of completion.
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