Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said a law would be passed in the provincial assembly to protect the Hindu community. He was talking to notables, traders, and party office bearers after a cabinet meeting here on Saturday.
Speaking about law and order situation and violence against Hindu community and alleged kidnapping of their women, he directed new SSP Mohammad Younis Chandio to improve law and order in the district. About development activities in Jacobabad, he said Rs 5 billion has been allocated for development and rehabilitation of the flood-hit district.
He said this is for the first time in the history of Sindh that a cabinet meeting has been held at any district headquarters. This meeting has been held on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari to resolve the problems and issues of downtrodden and poor people of this district, he added. He said seven million people of 16 districts of the province were affected by foods of 2010. The chief minister said Sindh government with the help of federal government has released the first instalment of Watan cards among 0.7 million affected people, while the release of Rs 5 billion is still awaited from the federal government. He said a survey for the second instalment of Rs 40,000 of Watan card is in process.
He said there were many complaints of shortage of water and Sindh recently faced 50 to 70 per cent shortage of water due to unpredictable weather and slow melting of ice. Qaim Ali Shah assured the people that water will be provided to growers of tail of BS feeder and Begari canal within four days, and for the judicious distribution of water, police and rangers are directed to look after regulators and channels.
He said the construction of 78 miles long road will be started along with the right bank of Begari canal. The chief minister stated that interest-free loan will be given to the flood hit local growers for the cultivation of crops through Sindh Bank which will be opened soon in Jacobabad.
The chief minister further stated that a package of Rs 5 billion will be given for the installation of 35 water filter plants in Jacobabad and Thul, while Civil Hospital Jacobabad would be upgraded. Federal Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, provincial ministers Agha Siraj Durrani, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Mukesh Chawla, Taimour Khan Pathan, Jam Saifulah Dharejo, Haji Muzafar Shujra, Memebr Provincial Assembly from Jacobabad Ayesha Khoso, Ghulam Muhammad Shelayani and others were also present on the occasion.