Unity is the need of the hour, says CM

Says Sindh's issues were recognised at the CCI meeting

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that the foremost principle of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was unity and today, in light of the internal and external challenges facing Pakistan, unity is the need of the hour.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday after laying a floral wreath and offering prayer at the Quaid's mazar on the occasion of his birth anniversary, Shah said that the country is facing the challenges of poverty, political unrest, national unity and a failing economy. "We all have to forge unity to face these challenges [and] to emerge as a sovereign nation," he said.

Referring to Indian hostilities, Shah said that India has introduced a controversial citizenship bill to deprive its Muslim citizens of their homeland while India's hostilities in Kashmir increase day by day. He said that the Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution against both the issues and has requested the Centre to highlight the issues on an international level.

Shah said that the meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) was held after one year but nearly all the issues pertaining to Sindh, which he raised at the meeting, were accepted. He added that he requested the prime minister to hold regular CCI meetings so that all outstanding issues between provinces and the Centre could be resolved.

Sindh’s public meetings reveal people’s myriad concerns

The issues raised by the CM in the meeting included the implementation of the water accord, recovery of Rs7 billion - which was deducted by the Federal Board of Revenue at source - the release of funds for health-related programmes, the suspension of the no objection certificate (NOC) issued for the installation of a power plant on CJ Link Canal and a renewable energy policy. According to Shah, the point of view of the Sindh government was recognised at the meeting.

The CM also congratulated the Christian community on the occasion of Christmas. "Pakistan is your home," he said, requesting the community to pray for the prosperity of the nation.

The CM expressed his grievance at the prime minister's secretariat not informing the CM of the prime minister's visits to Karachi in advance. With regards to the prime minister's visit tomorrow (Friday), Shah said that he has requested the governor to postpone the prime minister's meeting if his availability is needed. He explained that he would be unavailable on December 27 as he has to go to Rawalpindi for the death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2019.