The Chief Secretary Sindh Fazul Rehman has said that Provincial Culture Department, Auqaf Department and Project Director Bhitshah Development Project have been simultaneously engaged with separate assignments of Bhitshah Development and Beautification Works.
He said that soon people of Bhitshah would enjoy all basic facilities at their doorsteps. This he observed while talking with the journalists after laying Chaddar and offering fateha at the mazar of great saint poet Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (RA). The Sindh Chief Secretary arrived at Bhitshah to review the ongoing development works and to get firsthand information from the stakeholders. Responding a question, the Sindh Chief Secretary said that the first phase of Bhitshah Development Project, which was taken into hand with the cost of Rs 120 million was about to complete.
He said that under this first phase a pipeline of water supply has been laid down from Lakhi Minor upto Bhitshah Town and now house to house connections of water supply are being provided to the inhabitants; in addition to that old, historical Karar Lake has been rehabilitated and it will be further improved by installing water fountains and stage along with its bank. Besides, Rural Health Centre (RHC) has been made functional with all facilities, playground has been newly constructed.
He further said that additional blocks with total 28 classrooms and science and computer labs in boys & girls high school and intermediate college have also been constructed under this first phase of Bhitshah Development Project. He said that this work not only to increase the seating capacity but provide modern teaching facilities to the students of Bhitshah.
He directed the officers concerned for installation of filter plant at Bhitshah to make the water of Karar Lake and water supply clean and potable to the inhabitants of Bhitshah. He said that health facilities were more important job, which has been completed by making the Rural Health Centre (RHC) as functional with all facilities of staff, equipment and medicines.
Responding a question, the Chief Secretary Sindh said that the water supply line, which has been laid down 5-km far from Bhitshah has been completed and now house to house connections were being provided and added that till yet 550 connections have been provided while 3,500 connections were yet to be provided.
He said that the Sindh government was intending the development of Bhitshah in all respect and PC-I of Bhitshah Development Project Phase-II was in the way. He said that the revamping of drainage system with efficient system of water supply was very much important and added that work in this regard has been included in the PC-I Phase-II. Responding another question, the Chief Secretary Sindh Fazul Rehman said all departments engaged in the development works were accountable to the government and people as well. He said that the monitoring of Bhitshah Development Project works was being made in efficient manner.
The Sindh Chief Secretary while talking with Pir Mazhar Hussain Shah alias Nazan Sain at courtyard of the Dargah said that the Provincial Antiquity Department would be engaged in the rehabilitation of old shrines / tombs at Bhitshah. He said that soon he would call meeting of all stakeholders to discuss and decide about the proposals in this regard.
Earlier, on the arrival of Chief Secretary Sindh at the point of Lakhi Sir Minor at National Highway 3 Kilometers far from Bhitshah, the Project Director Bhitshah Development Project, Shafiq-ur-Rehman Paracha informed that 95 percent works of Bhitshah Development Project taken into hand at the cost of Rs 120 million has been completed. He said that except little addition, the rehabilitation and beautification of Karar Lake has been completed, which according to him, has converted the sub-surface water of the area as sweet and potable. He said that the work of water supply has been completed.
He said that good improvement in educational institutions in Bhitshah has been made by adding total 28 classrooms with science / computer lab facilities in the boys and girls High schools and Intermediate College. He said that previously only 11 classrooms were available for 1,300 boy students in secondary school, 7 classrooms for 625 girl students in Girls Secondary school and only two classrooms for 426 students of coeducation college Inter Science College. He said that now the number of classrooms in these institutions have been increased. Paracha said that a nursery has also been developed at Bhitshah for plantation and beautification. He said that plantation upto two kilometers from Hala end and Khyber end has been completed. He also informed the Chief Secretary that PC-I for laying efficient drainage system with construction of roads, streets have been proposed to the government.
The Sindh Chief Secretary later took round of the Bhitshah town and stopped over the Karar Lake and took briefing from the Project Director Bhitshah Development Project about further development of the Karar Lake. The Chief Secretary Sindh expressed his satisfaction over the development works and directed the officers to keep it up till the people of Bhitshah are facilitated accordingly.