Future of local government system: negotiations with all coalition partners under way: Qaim

The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that PPP has congenial relations with MQM and other coalition partners, adding that the negotiations are in under way to develop a consensus on the future system of the local government and seat adjustment for upcoming forth local elections.
Addressing a press conference at circuit house, Hyderabad last night, the Chief Minister said that dissolution of previous local bodies, appointments of the civil servants as administrators for interim period, extension in period of holding local elections from 120 days to 165 days and extending stipulated period for the amendments in at least 200 defective sections of existing local councils law are paradigms, which reveal that the provincial government, along with its coalition partners, is heading to make the system acceptable to all.
He said that though there are different opinions about the existing local councils system and PPP, ANP, Muslim League (F) and NPP said that existing local system has many flaws and it failed to deliver the people, therefore it needs major reforms and hopefully we will come up with consensus soon.
The Chief Minister Sindh said that after giving NFC award with mutual understanding, reforms in constitution would be the second historical achievements of the PPP government.
He said that PPP believes in strengthening the parliament and other institutions as per the spirit of constitution of 1973. He said that PPP has formed constitution reform's committee having representation of all political parties and striving to bring reforms into the constitution, which was de-shaped by previous dictators by moulding it into their interest.
Responding a question about deviation of Muslim League (N) from the recommendation of constitution reform's committee, the Sindh Chief Minister said that in democratic system, the opinion of public representative must be honoured. The Chief Minister Sindh said that poverty is the main issue confronting to the nation and PPP has planned a programme of employment for all.
He said that integrated strategy in this regard is being implemented to provide direct and indirect employment and income opportunities to the people.
He said that Sindh is rich with the natural resources and Sindh government has planned to produce energy, crude oil, gas, fertilisers and other products by exploiting these resources, which would help eradicate the menace of loadshedding and unemployment.
Responding a question about the salaries to the under-training of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Youth Development Programme, the Chief Minister Sindh said that there are some bottlenecks in this regard and added that about 1/3rd under-training youths are not either serious or attending their classes properly while many of them have not fulfilled their codal formalities required for releasing the salaries.
He further said that his government has planned to provide job skill training to the 75 thousand youths in this year and added that 60 thousand youths have been so far enrolled in different disciplines till date while remaining would be enrolled within shortest possible time under the SBBYDP.
To another question about the water shortage, the Chief Minister Sindh said that the Irsa has anticipated 17 percent water shortage in next Kharif season, however, he maintained that it depends on the rate of rain fall.
He said that besides water shortage in Rabbi the government succeeded in achieving the targets of the wheat productions and similarly; hence targets set for Kharif would be hopefully achieved.
Earlier, while addressing the PPP Workers Convention of Hyderabad Division at residence of Syed Ali Nawaz Shah Rizvi, the Chief Minister Sindh said that investment is being made in the Badin and Tharparkar districts to exploit coal reserves.
He said that federal government has reinstated the services of 60 thousands employees who were sacked by previous dictators, adding that Sindh government is also planning to follow this policy in the province as well.
He said that in addition to that the federal government has provided financial assistant to the 0.3 million women under the SBBISP while Sindh government within two months has also distributed 0.1 millino forms for providing financial support to the poor women separately under its BBISP.
The Sindh Minister for Inter-Provincial Makhdoom Jameel Zaman, Sindh Minister for Fisheries Zahid Ali Bhurgri and others were also present on the occasion.