Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali has said that over Rs 49 billion of development budget has been released by July 22 which is a record in the history of Sindh. "This shows how much attention I am giving to development," said Shah, who was Sindh's finance minister before he became Chief Minister. He was talking to media just after offering fateha at Mazar-e-Quaid along with his cabinet members.
Earlier on Saturday, Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ebad administered oath to nine members Sindh cabinet at Governor's House. They were Makhdoom Jamil-uz-Zaman, Nisar Khuhro, Suhail Anwar Sial, Jam Khan Shoro, Mukesh Chawla, Shamim Mumtaz, Jam Mehtab Dehr, Sikander Maindro and Sardar Shah. The chief minister said that he had announced his priorities on the floor of the house in his maiden speech just after taking the vote of confidence for the slot of chief minister. "The priorities are the same; best law and order, good education, and best health services," he said.
Replying to a question, he lauded the services and sacrifices of Rangers and said that he had not yet seen the file on Rangers powers. "Let me examine their file and I would take a decision - they are working with us and for us," he said and condemned an attack on Rangers in Larkana. He said he had directed the IG to arrest the terrorists involved in the Larkana incident. Replying to another question, he said the new cabinet would perform well. "We all as a team would deliver, I assure people of Sindh and also thank them for supporting PPP," he said.
The chief minister said that his top most priority is 'right man for right job', which means there would be merit in each and everything. "You [secretaries and head of departments] are most experienced bureaucrats, I know most of you for the last eight years, ever since I have joined politics. Most of you have worked with me and I know you are best officers, therefore I am expecting your helping hand in reduction of poverty and unemployment. You are also expected to help me provide best education and health services."
He said people of Sindh have always supported Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and "this is the time when Almighty Allah has given me the opportunity it become my main responsibility to pay them in the same coin by giving them a safe and secure Sindh, good education, best health services for which your support is very important." He urged them to take care of "my people means people of Sindh."
Shah said the office timings start from 9am, therefore everyone must observe punctuality. "I won't visit offices to check your attendance but it doesn't mean that I would be tolerating absenteeism and late arrivals," he said categorically. The chief minister said the development portfolio in the new budget was of Rs 200 billion. "I want you to be the custodians of each and every penny allocated for development schemes and use them in the best interest of the people and province of Sindh," he said and added that he would personally focus on utilisation of funds in a transparent manner.
Felicitating Syed Murad Ali Shah for taking over as chief minister, the chief secretary assured him that his team would prove to be his best team by delivering in every sector. The secretaries who spoke on the occasion included Syed Mumtaz Shah, senior Member Board of Revenue, Rizwan Memon and ACS (Dev) Mohammad Waseem.