KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah here on Monday presided a high level meeting regarding repair of flood protective bunds. He said that time limit is very important and that concerted efforts be made to complete the work before the advent of the next flood season. Qaim added that during his recent visit of interior of Sindh, there were complaints from people of different walks of life against pace of repair works on bunds. He added that some of the elders were giving suggestions in the light of their experience while there were complaints also from contractors with the regard to non-payment of bills. The CM said that there is problem of funds and provincial government is making all out efforts to face the challenge and will meet the needs properly. He added that the federal government had assured to provide funds worth Rs 5 billion and out of which Rs 2.5 billion are to be released immediately.
He said that the federal government is being approached for early release of the funds so as to complete the repair work of bunds. Earlier, Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah briefed about position of funds and allocation so far made for repair works of bunds. He said that the Sindh government has so far released Rs 2.6 billion to irrigation department so as to meet the needs of repair of bunds. Murad added that the irrigation department was released funds on Feb 28, 2011, which were authenticated on March 8, 2011. Minister Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo informed that 39 schemes belonging to irrigation department were taken up for which there was commitment of allocation of Rs 5 billion to be received by provincial government in two parts. The meeting was also informed that the federal government is further providing Rs 1 billion allocation for repair of bunds. Adviser to CM on Planning and Development Qaisar Bangali, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Muhammad Ishaque Lashari, Secretary Finance Naveed Kamran Baloch, Secretary Irrigation Rafique Memon, Secretary to CM Allamddin Bullo and others also attended the meeting. – Dailytimes
