Devolution devastated governance system: CM

Says government setting up one-window system to facilitate investors

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday said that the devolution of power, carried out during the Musharraf regime, had wreaked havoc on the established system of governance.

Shah was speaking at a reception he hosted for industrialists at the CM House.

Some elements, he said, were still praising the devolution, but they forgot the chaos it caused in Karachi and other cities in Sindh.

He said the revenue powers entrusted to city governments under the devolution plan allowed the conversion of the status of amenity plots into residential and commercial. This caused encroachment to appear everywhere in the city, he said, adding that even major nullahs in the city had been converted into colonies.

“An established and functional system of governance was altered, instead of reforming it. We are still recovering from the damage caused by the devolution of powers,” he said.

Referring to investment opportunities in Sindh, the CM said that the provincial government was setting up a one-window system to facilitate investors.

“I believe industrialists are government’s partners and this is why we have developed the concept of Public-Private Partnership which is thriving with the help of businessmen,” he said.

“We have to work hard to improve Sindh’s economy if we really want to usher in prosperity and economic stability in Pakistan… we have to make joint efforts for improving education and health services in the province.” he added.

Shah said that major issues of rural areas included overcoming water shortage to boost agricultural economy.

“The Sindh government is working on canal lining project to minimise water losses, enabling farmers to bring more land under cultivation,” he said.

Lashing out at some TV talk shows which persistently criticised him for delays over the ongoing projects, he said: “Believe me, I am energised by criticism. The provincial government is hastening efforts to make this city more developed and peaceful.”

The CM maintained that Rs12 billion would be spent on various development schemes in the city that would be completed within the next six months.

Criticising the National Accountability Bureau for ‘harassing’ government officers, he said that the efficiency of government servants had been compromised.

“Their performance is improving with my support,” he said. “Some institutions believe themselves to be more honest than others while considering others to be corrupt,” he said.

Stressing the need for avoiding such ‘self-deceit’, he said it was crucial for the development of the province and the country.

Shah said he was trying to restart the Karachi Circular Railway project.

He said a meeting of the joint working group on CPEC is scheduled to be held on Saturday (today) with the Sindh government. “We will start work on the CPEC on the birth anniversary of the Quaid-i-Azam on December 25.”

Sindh Minister for Industries Manzoor Wassan also spoke on the occasion.

The reception was attended, among others, by at least 100 industria