Brainstorming at CM House with Stanford top-gun

Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah discusses governance, education, human development, and with Stanford's Bill Burnett.

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah discussed governance, education, human development, and enhancing public services during his meeting with Stanford University's Executive Director Bill Burnett. He emphasised the importance of creating a service structure focused on solving public problems by improving governance.

The meeting was held at CM House and was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Jam Khan Shoro, Sardar Shah, Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, PSCM Agha Wasif, provincial secretaries, IBA Karachi's Executive Director Dr Akbar Zaidi, and representatives, including Azam Ali, Junaid Aziz, Abira, and Usman Nazir.

It was a brainstorming session, and the discussions revolved around governance, education, human development, and enhancing public services. The CM emphasised the importance of creating a service structure focused on solving public problems because his government has set `improving governance' as a top priority for which Burnett's expert guidance was required.

Need stressed for governance in police

The CM, addressing the Association of Former Inspectors General of Police, emphasised the urgent need for governance within the police force to ensure justice, neutrality, public service, and on top of its community policing.

"There is a dire need to align police operations with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's vision of discipline, impartiality, and service to the nation instead of bringing drastic reform."

He delivered his remarks at the AFIGP Annual Conference on the topic of Police Reforms: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities at CPO. Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, forty retired IGPs, serving senior police officers, and members of civil society were in attendance.

In his address, the CM said that Quaid-e-Azam believed that the police were servants of the public, not their masters. "Therefore, the police force must maintain neutrality, justice, and discipline to strengthen governance," he said.

He invited former IGs for further discussions over tea to deliberate on bridging gaps in the police system. He acknowledged that reforms in the Police Act were essential, stating that If everything was perfect, "we wouldn't be working on reforms today." He added that, instead of reforms, the police needed governance, capacity building, and community policing methods and attitudes.