High alert has been issued for the coastal areas in Karachi, Thatta and Badin after the met office’s report that a cyclone could hit the province between Friday and Monday, Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Hussain Bhurgari informed the Sindh Assembly (SA) on Thursday. He said that all fishermen in the sea have been advised for return early while district authorities of Karachi, Badin and Thatta have been asked to take precautionary measures to avert any damage.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Pakistan Peoples Party member Dr Ahmed Ali Shah drew attention towards alleged misappropriation in the distribution of funds under Benazir Bhutto Income Support Programme among poor women. He said that hundreds of millions of rupees are going to waste due to Pakistan Post Office staff’s corruption and asked the government to take measures for stopping the menace.Speaking on point of order, Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani informed the assembly about the lack of security around the SA premises. He said the main gate, where construction is underway, remains open and no security is present.
Supporting Durrani’s concern, MQM’s Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui said that no security personnel are present on the spot especially after the assembly session concludes and anyone can take advantage of the lack of security.SA Speaker Nisar Khuhro admitted that despite the police high-ups informed on different occasions, no satisfactory security arrangements have been made for the assembly.“[Due to this] the assembly has initiated making its own security arrangements and work to install a security gate at the main entrance is underway,” he added. Sindh Food Minister Nadir Magsi said the provincial assembly should have its own security arrangements.
