Karachi: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari presided over a meeting here in Karachi today. Meeting was attended by the Secretary General Salman Farooqui, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Minister Education Pir Mazhar-ul- Haq, Minister Agriculture Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Minister Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah, Minister Rehabilitation Haji Muzzafar Shujra, Minister Local Government Agha Siraj Durrani, Minister Information Shazia Marri, Minister Irrigation Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Minister Home Manzoor Wassan, Advisor to CM Sharmila Farooqui and concerned officials of the Sindh Government.
President was given briefing on the irrigation plan in light of the recent floods.
The meeting was informed that an irrigation drainage plan was in the process with the collaboration of foreign consultants. The plan was both short and long term and the short term plan was based on two phases. Phase one of the short term plan was to complete by the end of June 2012 and an amount of Rs. 1.5 billion was released by the Sindh Government for its implementation. Second phase of the short term plan was expected to complete by the end of December 2013 and it would by then have restored 5000 kilometres of drainage area of the old system. President expressed severe concern over the expected rains this year and directed the authorities to ensure completion of the first phase of short term plan by June 2012 as targeted.
The meeting was also informed about the flash appeal for rehabilitation that took place in Islamabad on the 21st of this month and was co-chaired by the Federal Minister Mr. Hafeez Shaikh and the head of UN agencies Mr. Timu Pakala. An appeal of US$ 4OO million was made for rehabilitation and so far Canada has stepped forward to contribute.
An update on the Sindh Waseela-e-Haq program was also presented during the meeting. The program that was initiated by the Sindh Government with an amount of Rs. 12 billion was already in the implementation phase and after the balloting, 23000 people were sent letters of selection. The program that would target all UCs of the 23 districts of Sindh was aimed to provide people with means of economic stability. People were to be given an interest free loan of rupees three hundred thousand each after a week long training enabling them to identify the type of venture and the process to manage it.
Minister Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah informed that approximately 800 people were being trained in the first phase and would be receiving the mentioned amount at the completion of their training. President termed the program beneficial for those who were in search of livelihoods and were struggling economically.
Asif Ali Zardari President was also briefed on the progress of work in roads sector. Finance Minister informed that the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas carriage-way would be completed by June 2012 and a few weeks delay was due to the flood situation in the area. Murad Ali Shah also informed that the Hyderabad-Badin road was in process and 5 companies were short listed for submission of final bids. Meeting was also apprised on the progress of Jhirk-Mulakatyar Bridge and that the evaluation of final bids was being carried out. President directed the concerned authorities to ensure in time completion of road sector projects and ensure that all damaged roads of the flood affected areas were rehabilitated at the earliest.
Minister Education explained the teacher training programs of the Education Department and informed that a body known as Sindh Development Teachers Education Authority was constituted which would focus on training of teachers. Apart from this, Pir Mazhar-Ul-Haq also apprised the meeting about the assistance committed by countries and donor agencies for rehabilitation of schools in flood affected areas. Minister informed that Iran Government had committed 61 schools, USAID 200 schools which they would manage for years, UNICEF had opened 1920 learning centers during floods and had now committed to put up 600 Temporary School Structures and 50 of which had already been put up.
Zardari expressed the desire to have trained and qualified teachers for children as the basic requirement for quality education. He asked the Chief Minister to ensure that the teachers were well trained and qualified given the importance of education.
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