Sindh government's work has been halted in almost all offices situated in the buildings and barracks of Sindh Secretariat due to the protest call of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) against the statement of Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza. The new Senior Minister for Works and Services, Prisons and Forest Dr Zulifqar Mirza had breathed fire against the leadership of MQM during a media talk at Mardan House.
Lower grade employees of Sindh Secretariat come to their offices on local transport while a large number of officers and employees have cars and motor bikes for this purpose. However, local transport disappeared from the roads of the metropolis while all petrol and CNG stations remained closed due to the protest call, that is why a large number of officers/employees could not come to their offices and work their halted as a result.
When this scribe visited provincial government's offices situated at Sindh Secretariat (Tugluq House), very short attendance of officers/employees was witnessed. The offices of provincial secretaries of Home, Planning and Development (P&D), Agriculture, Education, Irrigation, Sports, Coal and Energy, Labour, Excise and Taxation and Local Government are situated at different floors of Tugluq House.
All other officers of the said departments also sit in the said building while office of Advisor to Chief Minister for P&D Dr Kaiser Bengali is also part of this building. Besides, offices Chief Minister's Inspection Team (CMIT) are also located in the said House.
Peon of Agriculture department Arsalan Ahmed told Business Recorder that he came to office on his bicycle because he was aware that public transport will not run on the roads of Karachi. He told that their officers are enjoying the holiday at their homes but the lower employees are bound to come to offices despite any kind of protest or strike.
Similarly, official work remained halted in the seven-story building of new Sindh Secretariat where offices of many ministers including senior minister for Education, Works and Services, Food, Women Development, Culture, Power, Irrigation and Finance are situated. Chief Secretary's office is also part of that building which is located at first floor with strict security measures. During the visit, it was witnessed that Chief Secretary was not present in his office. There is another building nearby new Sindh Secretariat, where the reflection of MQM's protest was observed too.
Offices of Ministers for Local Government and Information Technology are available there. While, offices of Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC), Education and some other departments are also part of this tall building. Another building of Sindh Secretariat is located near by the RTO building, offices of Anti Corruption establishment, Zakat and Ushr, Population Welfare, Social Welfare, Culture, Housing, Inter provincial Co-ordination and other departments are parts of that building.
A large number of officers/employees of the said departments could not come to their offices due to protest call of MQM. Likewise, many important offices of provincial departments are situated in the barracks in the opposite of Sindh Assembly and nearby Sindh High Court Building. Deep Shades of MQM's protest were observed in all offices of Barracks including Information, Power, Labour, Finance, Health, Forest, Zakat and Ushr, Excise and Taxation, Home and other departments because a large number of officers/employees could not available there.
Not only the concerned officers/employees, but also visitors were not available in the said buildings. A few officers who stayed at their homes told Business Recorder that they had observed the situation at the time of Mirza's statement that is why we did not come to offices.
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