20000205

Daudpota optimistic

about overcoming

Sindh's budget deficit

KARACHI: Sindh Governor, Air Marshal Azim Daudpota (Retd) has said that the Western nations, initially showing opposition to the government are now appreciating steps being taken by this government.

He was talking to reporters after the oath-taking ceremony of the new Chief Justice of Sindh High Court at the Governor House, here on Friday.

Governor said that British Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Chirac have recently appreciated the steps taken by the government and now Pakistan has been able to renegotiate all its loans with these countries, thereby making it possible to get out of the debt trap" and have some breathing space.

"After sometime we will, Inshallah take steps to revive the economy and try to pay back our loans and come within the laid down parameters by all the loan giving agencies," he added.

Replying to a question about the deficit of the Sindh government, he said that this is because of our deductions at source and because of this our OD and loans have increased.

However, he was optimistic that there would be an improvement soon as the Sindh government has tightened its economy in the province and resorting to rightsizing besides curtailing all its unnecessay expenditures.

Replying to a question about the law and order situation, the governor said that it is not so good as it should have been.

He remarked that it would not be right to say that this situation is better as compared to that of the last year as the incidents of thefts, car snatching and kidnappings are occurring.

However, he praised the police and other law enforcing agencies for the safe and without any ransome, recovery of the PPL chief Munsif Raza in the recent high-level kidnapping.

To another question about the fate of those who were recruited directly as assistant commissioners and DSPs, Daudpota said that he had already issued directives for recruitment through the Public Service Commission as when he took over he came to know that recruitment from grade 11 to 15 was not being made through Public Service Commission.

He pointed out that governor and the chief minister do have discretionary powers to appoint some one above the rules.

However, he made it clear that those who have not gone through the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) would have to do so.

Moreover, the governor has said that the Northern Bypass project would be completed in two years time.

He said that the contract of this very project has now been given to the Fauji Foundation. This was earlier with the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), he added.

Daudpota said that the fundings including loans from the original sources, under same conditions, would be utilised for the completion of this project by Fauji Foundation.

He stated the scheme would help divert heavy traffic load out of city and thus easing rush and congestion on main roads besides containing accident rate.

To a question, the governor said that National Highway Authority (NHA) was set up for the maintenance and repairs of all highways in the country and thus need to accord equal priority to all its projects around the country.

Daudpota appreciated the Chief Executive Gen. Pervez Musharraf for his clear thinking and better understanding.

Replying a question, the governor said that out of about 100 judges of the superior judiciary some 90 have taken oath under the PCO. He said there had been precedence of swearing in under the PCO in the country.

The governor said that he himself had taken oath under the PCO and opined that there should not be any hue and cry about the PCO. "What is fact is a fact," he remarked. Any exaggeration in this respect would not be in the interest of the country and asked the press to keep uppermost the national interest.

Daudpota said the national press is free and there are no restriction as such which he maintained was a good omen.ÑAPP