Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that his government has cancelled arms licenses which have not been verified so far. “However, such licenses could be revalidated if necessary documents are presented. Otherwise they stand cancelled.”
The chief minister said this while talking to media just after presiding over a Rehabilitation Response (RR) programme at the FPCCI on Thursday.
He said the Sindh government had been extending date for verification of arms licenses from time to time but “I have refused to extend it further and cancelled over 5,50,000 license which were not verified so far,” he said. “But my government has decided to give an opportunity to the holders of cancelled licenses to file an application with the home department to get their licenses revalidated but all this depends upon presentation of authentic documents.”
Over one million arms licenses have been issued to the people in Sindh but so far only 4,50,000 licenses have been verified and the remaining 5,50,000 have been cancelled by the chief minister.
The chief minister has directed the home department to launch a website to post details of verified and cancelled licenses from August 20, 2016. He also urged them to launch a similar mobile phone application where people can check the status of their arms licenses.
To a question, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that special assistants and ministers had not been appointed on ‘son-quota’ basis. Majority of them are elected (MPAs) and a few have been picked up to give representation to a particular community on technical basis (technocrats), he clarified.
Meanwhile, addressing a gathering at FPCCI, the chief minister lauded the services of its Trustee Dr Amjad Gulzar and Dr Iqbal for the ailing humanity.
He directed Minister Health Dr Sikandar Mendhro and Secretary Health Ahmed Bux Narejo, who were present there, to work out a plan for starting second shift in the government hospitals. “I am thankful to the RR that they have proposed a second shift in the hospitals to make them functional round the clock,” he said, and added that he had already declared emergency in health and education sectors. This move would help achieving his agenda of providing health services in the government sector round the clock, he further commented.
It is pertinent to add that all the government hospitals function only during the office hours, however, emergency services remain available round the clock. The chief minister has asked the health department to prepare a proposal to functionalise the government hospitals in two shifts. It means the OPD and specialists would be available there in both the shifts.
The chief minister said he had launched an Rs 10 billion special package to repair, rehabilitate, recast and reconstruct important roads of the city. “I know Karachi contributes to the national exchequer more than any other city, therefore it must be given due share for which I am striving hard and working to give a new shape to this city,” he said.
Shah said another glaring issue of the city was water. “Tomorrow on August 14, I am going to launch K-IV project to provide 260 MGD water to the residents of this city, and this would also help to provide more water to the industrialists,” he assured, and said it was first phase of K-IV and then there would be another phase for another 260 MGD.
Dr Amjad Guzar handed over keys of seven ambulances to the chief minister. These ambulances are almost mobile health unit. The chief minister thanked Dr Amjad Gulzar for this donation.
Those who spoke on the occasion include SM Munir, Khalid Tabba, Dr Amjad Gulzar and Dr Iqbal. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, MNA Naveed Qamar, Special Assistant to CM Qasim Naveed and others attended the FPCCI programme.
