The chief minister (CM) of Sindh has told deputy commissioners of all bordering districts to keep a strict check on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) entering the province from Balochistan and Punjab.
He asked them to ensure that no criminals or militants could make their way into Sindh disguised as IDPs. If, he said, they failed the area SSP or DIG Police will be held responsible.
While presiding over a video conference with the province's commissioners and deputy commissioners at his residence on Tuesday, CM Qaim Ali Shah also said that IDPs should be registered and it was compulsory to administer polio drops to any child under the age of five.
Developing the districts
Also discussed at the meeting were the district annual development project schemes. The deputy commissioners were asked to prepare public oriented development schemes after consulting with representatives of the area under the priority development initiatives. Around Rs10 billion have been allocated for this project. Another Rs15billion have also been allocated for ongoing district schemes.
CM Shah directed the deputy commissioners to mobilise their resources under the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to cope with the monsoon season. He told them to survey their areas and mark out vulnerable embankments, buildings and take precautionary measures.
According to the CM, in the current financial year, the Sindh government has curtailed its annual development plan outlay from Rs165 billion of last year to Rs 143 billion but simultaneously has raised the district development budget from Rs20 billion to Rs25 billion.
Water woes
The CM also told the deputy commissioners to set up teams and conduct raids on water channels to take action against people involved in water theft. Shah asked the commissioner and deputy commissioners of each division and district about the status of development in their area. He also inquired about the law and order situation, supply of irrigation water, provision of water supply, drainage and sanitation in the cities/ towns, contingency plan under the DDMA to meet with current monsoon season and status of IDPs.
The Karachi commissioner was asked by the CM to come up with new development schemes for the city under the district development portfolio with joint consultation between Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and deputy commissioners.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2014.
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