By By our correspondent
The chief minister said the provincial government had proposed that the NFC award formula should be based on multiple criteria because Sindh collected more revenue than other provinces.
He criticised the elements protesting against the government and questioned why they were silent during the tenure of a dictator. He said within three months of coming into power, the PPP-led government announced shelving of the Kalabagh Dam project. During the last one and a half years, measures were taken to provide relief to the people, he added.
Qaim said his government did not come into power with the use of force, but it was the people, especially from Sindh, who reposed confidence in the PPP and elected its candidates.
He said that injustices had been committed with Sindh in the past but the present government has taken numerous steps to reduce the miseries of the people of the province. “There is no match between the present and the previous governments, as the PPP-led set-up has never compromised on crucial issues of Sindh, including water and NFC award.”
Over 40,000 acres of land were distributed among women in Sindh and 0.5 million women are getting Rs 1,000 per month under the Benazir Income Support Programme, the chief minister added.
About the Thar coal project, he said substantial work had been carried out in this regard and the Thar coal project would remain the property of the Sindh government. Companies from the UK and the US are now showing interest to invest in the project, Qaim said.
To ensure transparency, he said, the Sindh University was authorised to conduct recruitment tests for teachers and similarly even posts for engineers would be filled through the Public Service Commission.
Responding to a question, the chief minister said they did not accept the traditional formula for distribution of water and insisted the water accord of 1991 should be implemented in letter and spirit, keeping in view the water shortage in the province.
He said the relations between the PPP and the MQM were moving on well and as per the announcement of MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain and PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari these relations would continue to prosper even after the government’s tenure is over.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah handed over documents of the plots allotted to the journalists of Hyderabad to the management of the Hyderabad Press Club.
During a reception organised by the press club, the chief minister said the provincial government would make efforts for the provision of residential plots to journalists of Hyderabad.
Responding to a request of the press club’s management, the chief minister announced that the rate of plots would also be decreased.The chief minister also announced Rs 1 million grant for the press club.
The governing body and members of the press club thanked the chief minister for his support regarding provision of residential plots to the journalists of the district.In recognition of the CMís services, the press club announced lifetime membership to him. HPC President Mahesh Kumar, General Secretary Hameedur Rehman and others received the documents of the allotted plots from the chief minister.