Interim govt focuses on crime control

Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar presided over an introductory meeting of his caretaker cabinet and decided to take strict measures to control law and order, notably eliminating dacoits in the kutcha area and street crimes in Karachi.

The meeting, held at CM House, was attended by caretaker ministers, Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz, Younus Dhaga, Mubeen Jumani, Dr Saad Khalid, Dr Junaid Shah, Mrs Rana Hussain, Ishwar Lal, Arshad Wali Muhammad, Omar Soomro, Khuda Bux Marri, Chief Secretary Dr Fakhre Alam, Advocate General Hassan Akbar, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh and others.

Baqar said that the meeting aimed at setting an agenda for good governance, service to the people, and supporting the election commission of Pakistan

He said that floods have increased poverty manifold in the province and there is a need to take concrete measures cope with the situation.

He mentioned that people of different faith and beliefs live together, but anti-state elements are trying to create law and order situation by igniting religious hatred and we must stop it.

It was pointed out that the dacoits have developed sway in the kutcha area, therefore, the cabinet decided to launch an operation against the outlaws. The home minister was directed to chalk out a plan in consultation with the police and other law enforcement agencies so that a well-coordinated clean-up operation against the dacoits could be launched.

The cabinet members pointed out that due to some ongoing development works in the city, traffic jam issues crop up during the peak hours, therefore the traffic police was directed to manage traffic flow properly.

The meeting after a thorough discussion decided to expedite work on the ongoing development schemes, and to accelerate work on the foreign-funded projects so that they are completed on time.

It was pointed out that the people from far-flung areas visit government offices in Karachi and in their respective districts where their problems are not resolved. The chief minister directed all the ministers, particularly of the Revenue, Local Government, Police, and Health to direct their respective departments to make their offices functional.

The cabinet expressed satisfaction that Sindh has become polio free from the last two years but its virus was still alive in different areas.

The health minister was urged to take necessary measures to make this province free from the crippling disease of polio.

The chief minister directed all the caretaker ministers to prepare presentations of their respective departments so that decisions could be taken for public interest accordingly.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2023.