Sindh CM orders quick completion of 207 schemes

CM Syed Murad Ali Shah reviews on-going development projects in three districts, costing Rs11.96b

KARACHI: In his on-going district development meetings, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah reviewed 288 development schemes costing Rs11.96 billion in three districts of Shaheed Benazirabad division, directing the relevant departments to complete 207 high-priority schemes for which funds had been allocated.

During the meeting on Monday, Shah also urged the elected representatives of these districts to take ownership of these, so that they could ensure the quality and pace of work as well as the proper operation of them.

The CM was informed that there are 31 schemes worth Rs337 million that will be completed by the end of the current financial year in Shaheed Benazirabad district, as the government had released 95 per cent of the funds for them, while the remaining funds are to be released this month. A total of 145 schemes are in progress in the district, covering sectors such as education, local government, irrigation, health and rural development, with an allocation of Rs5.7 billion.

Shah claimed that his government had prioritised water and sanitation schemes in every district of Sindh, adding that the public health engineering department had launched 18 projects for this purpose in Shaheed Benazirabad, which will be completed by the end of the next financial year.

Meanwhile, in Naushero Feroze district, work is underway on 66 schemes costing Rs3 billion.

Shah stated that there were 18 district-specific schemes of Rs1.1 billion in Naushero Feroze, for which 90 per cent of the budgeted funds had been released and 82 per cent of the work had been finished.

Elected representatives from the district also complaimed that the district headquarters hospital had not yet been established there, causing problems for area residents. At this, the CM directed the health department and planning and development department to provide all necessary facilities for the hospital as well as an ambulance service in Naushero Feroze. He further decided to establish a chest pain centre in Mehrabpur, saying it would later be upgraded to a cardiology hospital.

Moreover, the meeting was told that funds for 14 schemes worth Rs1.55 billion had been released in one go, while a total of 77 schemes, costing Rs3.1 billion, were being carried out.

Expressing his displeasure at the slow progress of the 14 projects where all the funds had been released, Shah directed the relevant departments to expedite the work.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2020.