Sindh’s vital issues to be resolved on priority: PM

By News Desk

KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday assured Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah of resolving all important issues of the province on priority basis, including development schemes, wheat shortage and locust swarm attacks.

During a meeting between Khan and Shah at the Governor House, it was also agreed to appoint Mushtaq Mehar as the new Sindh Inspector General of Police (IGP). Governor Sindh Imran Ismail was also present on the occasion, said a statement issued by the Sindh CM House.

The chief minister had formally requested the premier to replace the incumbent provincial police chief Kaleem Imam. The matter had been a bone of contention between the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Sindh government for weeks, with the provincial government earlier recommending IGP Imam’s removal claiming he had failed to perform satisfactorily. The federal government had earlier snubbed the Sindh government, saying Imam would continue to serve as IGP until further notice.

Sources told Geo News that a notification in this regard was likely to be issued on Tuesday (today) following a meeting of the federal cabinet.

Chief Minister Shah, while discussing development schemes, told Prime Minister Khan that some of the important projects of the province were pending with Planning and Development Ministry. Shah told Khan that locust swarm had wreaked havoc with the standing crops in the country, particularly in Sindh, adding it was high time to destroy them in the desert area where they had settled for breeding, as their breeding would start when the desert would receive rain.

Khan said he would direct the department concerned for taking necessary measures and start aerial spray in the desert areas. The chief minister proposed to hire aircraft from China and the UAE so that action could be taken in time. The Prime Minister also directed the federal government departments concerned to take emergent measures to start spray.

Regarding increase in polio cases, Khan said he would call a meeting of National Polio Eradication Taskforce in which all the stakeholders would be invited to change and further strengthen the strategy to control it.

The issue of wheat shortage was also discussed during the meeting. The Prime Minister said he would call a meeting on the matter shortly. The chief minister said new wheat crop would be harvested from March, therefore, the government had to make necessary arrangements to meet the national requirement.

Earlier, Governor Ismail and Chief Minister Shah received Prime Minister Khan at Faisal Base. Speaking at the cheques distribution ceremony for concessionary loans among successful applicants of the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES), a component of the Kamyab Jawan Programme, the Prime Minister said Pakistan was passing through difficult times, asking the youth not to worry and step up efforts for uplifting the country.

YES was launched in October last year under which Rs100 billion were allocated for the youth, with loans from Rs100,000 to Rs5 million to be disbursed among the youth coming up with practicable business ideas.

Talking about how he aimed to make the programme a success, the Premier said it would run completely on merit. “If this programme runs on merit, it is bound to be successful. Unfortunately, the previous governments’ programmes failed as they operated on nepotism and political affiliations,” he said. “For the first time, we have given 50,000 scholarships, as investing in the youth will uplift Pakistan,” he added.

Separately, Prime Minister Khan met Pir Pagara Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi at the Kingri House and discussed in detail the political situation in the province. During the meeting, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) expressed its full confidence in Khan’s leadership and assured its complete support and cooperation, PM Office media wing said in a press release. Governor Ismail, Minister for Privatisation Muhammadmian Soomro, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Water Resources Muhammad Faisal Vawda, Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi and Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan accompanied the Prime Minister.