Karachi-Umerkot road foundation stone laid

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that he has received report about flour (atta) crisis in Sindh and details will be made available in two days. He was talking to journalists after laying the foundation stone of Jhirk Road from Karachi to Umerkot at a ceremony held at Memon Goth, Gadap Town, here on Thursday.

The chief minister referred to Benazir's announcement of her return to Pakistan on October 18 and said 'let October 18 come and only then we will take measures according to conditions prevailing then'. He said let us wait for the decision of Supreme Court and then see whether she is returning here or not. He said she knows how many cases are there against her.

Dr Arbab said election of the President has drawn closer and we are preparing for the same. He said his character is clean and will be re-elected for second time. He said that greater loss was caused by the leadership outside Pakistan who left the country after plundering the national wealth. They are the people who committed wrongs but President committed no such wrong and rather he took the decision to doff his uniform. He said when Qazi Hussain Ahmed resigned, even his daughter did not follow him.

He said we have started good things and future government would be forced to complete them. On complaints that DG MDA is involved in land grabbing, the chief minister assured that he would hold an inquiry into it.

Regarding restoration of Senator Ghaffar Qureshi, he said he has received reports and would take a decision in the light of the same. Earlier addressing the stone laying ceremony, the chief minister said that this road was proposed between National Highway (N-5) and Super highway (E-9) due to heavy traffic intensity which is growing fast to and from port city.

He said the proposed alignment will open new avenues for development, industrial, commercial and residential areas, thereby reducing congestion and pollution from Karachi city besides improving the quality of life of people living in the adjoining villages.

The chief minister said that on completion, the road will result in saving of distance and travel time, give boost to development of agro and dairy farming, poultry production and mining of coal, gypsum and other minerals. He said that agriculture products will find speedy passage from interior Sindh to one of the largest fruit and vegetable market at Karachi and export items to the sea port.