MoU signed for poverty alleviation initiative

Sindh Energy and Planning & Development Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has announced the launch of the Poverty Alleviation Programme across Sindh following directives of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

He announced this during a signing ceremony for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the planning & development department, and the People's Poverty Alleviation Programme at the Sindh Secretariat. Under the agreement, initiatives would be implemented in various union councils of Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushehro Feroz, Hyderabad and Karachi.

The planning and development secretary signed the MoU on behalf of the Sindh government. Shah noted that the European Union was supporting the Poverty Alleviation Programme. He emphasised that the programme would later be expanded to other districts in Sindh.

He highlighted that several poverty reduction programmes are under way in Sindh and noted that other provinces were now looking to replicate the success of the PPP’s anti-porverty measures. He claimed that these initiatives placed a particular focus on women.

Additionally, he said, the Sindh government was ensuring the reconstruction of houses damaged by floods, with ownership rights being granted to women. He also mentioned the success of the solar energy programme in Sindh, which had converted over 200,000 homes onto solar power.

He noted that the completion of a solar park in the province would take at least three years. When asked about the political situation, Shah stated that Fazlur Rehman was a trusted ally and Bilawal was in contact with him. He expressed optimism that all matters with Fazl would be resolved.

Regarding the National Assembly and Senate, he said that any amendments to bills would be addressed appropriately. He expressed the hope that Fazl would not resort to tactics similar to the disruptive methods of certain political groups. He described the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as a disruptive force with no political ideology.

Commenting on the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shah stressed that the provincial government's priority should be restoring peace and order. He referred to peace efforts, such as tribal councils in Parachinar, and remarked that the country was improving, with the inflation rate slowing down after a sharp rise.