Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan has said that the country is passing through a very crucial time, and some elements are trying to destabilise it. Speaking sat the annual dinner of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) late on Sunday, he said that some unscrupulous elements were spreading rumours and trying to keep the general public away from the coming elections.
He assured the gathering that the government has taking all possible steps to hold free and fair elections on schedule. "If any thing goes wrong, beside the government, the political parties would also be held equally responsible for the same, he added.
The governor said that during last 5 years the government had faced numerous challenges and made several decisions to boost economic activities in the province. He said that the government had resolved several problems of industrialists and now this sector was showing positive results.
He said that it was too early to say that "all is well" in the country. However, wheels of industrials have started moving; investors' confidence has been restored; and they have started investing in different sectors.
Recalling the period when Pervez Musharraf took over as President of the country, he said that at that time Pakistan was on the brink of being declared failed state, and economic condition was in a shambles. Ibad said that President Musharraf had made many policy changes "and now the country is on the line of progress and prosperity".
He said that provincial development budget had been increased manifold, while allocation for higher education had been increased. City Nazim Mustafa Kamal termed looting, burning and ransacking in the city, after the incident of December 27, as a conspiracy. "It was an intentional move to destabilise the city and the country," he added. He said that the people have now are well aware of who these elements were.
Former minister for industries Mohammed Adil Siddiqui said that the government has started seawater desalination projects to meet the water shortage. He said that the industrialists of Site area would soon start getting desalinated water. S M Munir said that the industrial sector was passing through a very crucial time.
He emphasised the need of holding frequent meetings with President Musharraf to apprise him of the problems faced by industrialists so that he should know their problems and take appropriate measures to resolve them.
Kati Chairman Abdul Haseeb Khan praised the Governor and City Nazim and said that they had made tremendous efforts to improve the living conditions of the general public, increasing investment and boosting economic activities in the city.
Fazl-e-Jalil lauded the government policies and said that Korangi industrial area had remained neglected for 30 years. "Now the infrastructure development work has been started and progressing on fast track."
Munir presented gold medals to Governor "on successful completion of five years", to city nazim on his services for the city, and to former chairman of Kati Masood Naqi.