Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Wednesday stressed that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa need to open their eyes and see what is happening to them.
During a meeting with a delegation of journalists from KP who called on him at his office in Karachi, Memon said that despite being in its third term in KP, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) government has failed to provide employment opportunities, forcing people to migrate to other areas for work.
He said the party’s founder is not sincere to anyone — not to the PTI, or to the country, or to the people, or even to the party’s members, as he is committed to only his own interests.
He also said that media reports and speeches often contradict each other, and that the Sindh government faces propaganda driven by a well-orchestrated conspiracy. Through this visit, the journalists will witness first-hand the significant work done by the provincial government, he added.
Energy sector
Memon said Pakistan is facing an energy crisis, and the coal of Tharparkar is the only solution to this challenge. He said work on the Thar coal project had been initiated, but it had been halted as soon as their government ended.
In 2008, under the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari, work on the Thar coal project resumed to honour the legacy of Benazir Bhutto, he added.
He said Thar coal would resolve Pakistan’s long-standing energy crisis. He also said that over 3,500 MW is being generated from Thar coal, which serves as the lifeblood of Pakistan’s economy. The Sindh government has invested $2 billion in the Thar coal project, he added.
He announced that the provincial government has initiated a solarisation system to address the energy crisis. Memon said solar systems would be provided to 200,000 families. Moreover, the wind power plant is a major project of the government, and there are plans to build a solar park as well, he added.
Health sector
The minister said the Sindh government is providing valuable services in the healthcare sector. Millions of people are receiving free treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), benefiting not only Pakistan’s residents but also international patients, he added.
He said the CyberKnife technology at the NICVD is also serving patients from countries like Afghanistan and Iran. Moreover, the Gambat Hospital offers free liver transplants, and the Sindh government provides a grant of Rs5 billion to the Indus Hospital, he added.
He also said that in the province of Sindh, no health or identity card is required for receiving treatment, because the hospitals serve everyone from all across the country.
Other sectors
Regarding the transport sector, he pointed out that the Sindh government had launched the EV Bus service as well as the Pink Bus service for women, the first of such initiatives introduced in Pakistan’s history.
He highlighted that Sindh is the only province where two cadet colleges for women have been established.