Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has termed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a mega economic development project of the country which would also be beneficial for Sindh province.
The Thar Coal Development Project, Wind Energy Project, Karachi Circular Railway, Keti Bandar and many others were incorporated in that CPEC, the Chief Minister said and claimed that it was designed by former President Asif Ali Zardari during his tenure.
He expressed these remarks while talking to media persons after attending the 20th Academic Convocation of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro.
Due to paucity of fund, the Chief Minister said the provincial government was unable to launch Karachi Circular Railway Project. The former President Asif Ali Zardari had approached to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and called him to launch Orange Train Project Lahore like scheme also in Karachi, he informed, adding the provincial government had succeeded to incorporate that mega project of Karachi in the CPEC and now the work on it would be started during the current year.
Besides, he said, Keti Bandar Project had also been included in the CPEC which was designed by former PM Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto but could not be launched due to paucity of funds. The provincial government had made successful efforts to incorporate maximum development projects in the CPEC with utmost facilities to the people of the province, he added.
Responding to a question about census, the Chief Minister informed that the country had been divided into blocks for that purpose and each block comprises 200 to 250 houses. After census, the enhancement of National and Sindh Provincial constituencies was expected because of increasing population, he added.
Syed Murad Ali Shah informed that a comprehensive session on the issue was being held in Sindh Assembly where the house would discuss all related matters including the quantum of release of water from the downstream.
Responding to a question on electricity issue, the Chief Minister said though it was a federative issue however both federation and provinces were responsible to manage it amicably. The Sindh had reservations that there was no due representation of provinces in the federal government departments as a result of which, the people of Sindh province were being affected, he said.
He said even in winter season, around six to eight hours long loadshedding was being carried out in Sindh and no one could guess the number of hours during summer season. The managements of HESCO and SEPCO had been warned that Sindh Government would make all possible action, if both the organisations had failed to bring loadshedding in normal timings, he said, adding both the organisations would also be held responsible if law and order situation occurred in Sindh as a result of hours long loadshedding.
Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that administrative and financial powers had been bestowed to Mayor Karachi in accordance to law and constitution.
About the threats of terrorism in the province, Syed Murad Ali Shah said such threats were also received in the past, but defused due to timely action and sacrifices of the law enforcement agencies and it was hoped that such attempts would also be foiled also in future.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had termed the provision of quality education to future generation as the top priority of the provincial government and said all efforts were being utilised to provide required facilities both teachers and students.
The Chief Minister expressed these remarks while delivering his presidential remarks at the 20th Annual Academic Convocation of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro on Thursday.
He said his government was striving to ensure congenial atmosphere in all educational institutions with state of the art facilities so that the future generation could be able to acquire modern methods of education and play their key role for the development of the country in general and province in particular.
Appreciating the high standard of education in Mehran University, the Chief Minister said the university is playing pivotal role in producing the calibre which were engaged in improving the socio-economic development in the country and in Sindh.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Aslam Uqaili highlighted the academic achievements of the higher learning institutions both at national and international platforms. He also briefed about the academic and research development being contributed by the university for the betterment of the country.
Later, degrees were conferred to 707 male and female graduates and postgraduates of the university. Besides, gold and silver medals were also awarded to top of the faculty and best graduates.
-Business RecorderÂ
