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District
Government of Jacobabad
Jacobabad is a home of prominent families, eminent political figures who usually play decisive role in power share in the province or in the centre, is again a hub of heritage, history, culture and valuable traditions. Unfortunately those political personalities who thrived on the vote bank of one or the other political party had nothing to do with this problem-plagued district. Each time, they come & gone but the problems of the inhabitants remained static & went on multiplying.
Had it been the menace of illiteracy & ignorance combined with the vice of Karo-Kari or mountains of garbage littered all around or contaminated water (unfit for both human as well as animal consumption), or rapid and uncontrolled spread of lethal diseases, all grew as permanent feature of this part of the world. However, with the installation of Begum Saeeda Ahmedmian Soomro led district government in 2005, things began changing slowly and gradually. Her election to this highest position of the district government was itself an onslaught on the prevalent inefficient political & social setup. A place where woman had no value except being treated as child producing machine, was blessed with an assiduous and energetic leadership creating a novel example of integrity and hard work. It is said that, Begum Saeeda Ahmedmian Soomro, a renowned philanthropist and an active social reformer, surfaced on the political horizon of Sindh by virtue of her popularity as a social reformer and sincere sympathizer of poverty hit section of the society. During her two-year term as the Zila Nazim of Jacobabad the pace of development & schemes meant for social uplift are visible and can be seen with naked eye and admired with open heart. Her sincere services for the betterment of varied sectors & revival of sick units, during her initial years can be classified as under:
Health Sector Completion of three mega projects in the health sector i.e: (a) A building housing female Midwifery School on the sidelines of Male Nursing School. The school is now functional with a batch of 20 students. UNFPA assist this project and provide monthly stipend of Rs. 1050 to each student. Two tutors have also been appointed to train the midwives. The centre is well equipped with laboratory instruments, furniture, stationery, documentation equipments etc. (b) Installation of a ware house for keeping medicines at EDO health offices. This was initiated to provide required temperature to the medicines and avoid them to become spurious or in effected. (c) Vehicle shed at EDO health office. (d) Visitors shed at MCH Centre.
Strategies to eliminate lethal diseases With the exclusive efforts of the Zila Nazim, a campaign was launched against the fastly spreading fatal diseases like Hepatitis B and C. Initially 270 patients of Hepatitis were provided with complete medical cover. Similarly at least 117 jail inmates of District Prison, suffering from Hepatitis B were administered free dozes and 409 patients already admitted in the civil hospital were vaccinated. Beside this at least 35 deserving government officials suffering from Hepatitis C were provided with free medical treatment from the district government funds. Begum Saeeda Soomro, the Zila Nazim, in order to ensure the delivery of proper medication to the needy patients also ensured her very presence during the vaccination process. “I shall strive my best until above lethal disease are eradicated from my district once and for all,” Begum Saeeda Soomro, the Zila Nazim was quoted as saying. Besides this, a sufficient stock of drugs including anti-venom vaccines (ASV) & anti-rabbies (ARV) medicines have been made available at all categories of medical centres in and around the district, i.e DHQ, THQs, BHUs, RHCs & Dispensaries. In order activate ’ghost’ medical units and provide maximum health care facility to common man, the District Government has signed MOU with Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) under President Primary Health Care initiative. Under the scheme, SRSO takes up BHUs, Dispensaries and Unani Shifa Khana. Begum Saeeda Soomro, the Zila Nazim spends her days and nights, always thinking about the poormen’s uplift. Upon her request as well as due to the efforts of Excellency Muhammadmian Soomro, the House of Charity of United States of America arranged 63 surgical operations of cleft lip and clap palate and 3 burn cases at civil hospital Jacobabad. Besides this, a consignment of life saving drugs were handed over to the district government. The team members also consented to under take more surgical operations in the district in future. District Government initiative to provide maximum health care facilities to the populace has helped in regaining public faith in the government-run hospitals, and during the previous year a total of 492,959 patients were attended as OPD in all the hospitals & 8,825 as indoor patients. At least 2,122 operations of both major and minor nature were conducted in the wake of persistant ban on recruitment and acute shortage of medical experts & para medics, the Zila Nazim in collaboration with UNFPA, has hired 4 LHVs at THQ hospitals of Thul, Garhi Khair and Civil hospital Jacobabad. In addition to this 6 lady doctors have also been recruited to provide mother and child health care services. The process of hiring more doctors and paramedical staff is in progress. With the collaboration of SDSSP at least 5 health related schemes are at last lag of their completion. At least 2122 patients have been operated upon 56 snake bite victims were provided timely anti venom vaccines and 505 dog bitten patients were administered ARVs and their precious lives were saved.
Educational uplift and District Government Besides health care facilities, Zila Nazim, Begum Saeeda Soomro is alive to cater to the academic needs of the local populace and improve its overall deteriorated standard. A large chunk of Rs. 53,533 millions were released during the outgoing year against 15 schemes. One such scheme entitled as “Renovation of School Building 14 Units” has been completed. The work on the rest of schemes is in progress with accelerated pace & are likely to be completed during the current year. The Zila Nazim pays regular and random visits of various schools and colleges of the district and personally observe their performance. Beside this the elected officials of the respective areas have been advised to also pay visits to academic centres of their areas.
Some rare achievements of caring Zila Nazim · 160 teachers completed capacity building training. · 2 schemes comprising 51 units costing Rs. 21.885 million were completed during the fiscal 2005-06 with the assistance of SDSSP. · 65 closed schools were reopened on redevelopment basis. · 25% link in enrolment upto elementary level.
Urban water supply scheme With the efforts of Excellency Muhammadmian Soomro & Mr. Justice (R) Abdur Razzaq Thaheem, Federal minister for Local Government, a mega project of urban water supply was launched costing Rs. 1250,000 million. The project is jointly shared by the provincial and the federal governments. With the completion of this project the citizens of Jacobabad will be able to consume sweet & filtered water. By this, the fastly spreading diseases would by and large be controlled. Similarly 14 rural water supply & drainage schemes costing Rs. 14.700 are under execution and some of them are near to completion. “Jacobabad is undergoing revolutionary changes in all spheres of life with the keen interest and hard work of the Zila Nazim, Begum Saeeda Soomro. She personally inspects various ongoing schemes and keep vigilant check on them. The development in the district during her term is record breaking and eye opener for the next generations of Zila Nazims”, remarks Haji Afzal Khan Khoso, Chairman Health Committee of Zila Council.
District Infrastructure
Agriculture sector Agriculture being the backbone of our overall economy has always remained on top line of the priorities of the assiduous Zila Nazim. Under national program for improvement of water courses a target of 125 water courses during the fiscal year 2006-07 was admirably met with in the stipulated time and 147 water courses were completed over and above the target. The works on 69 water courses is in progress, and 339 new water courses have been surveyed. The total expenditure likely to be incurred on the project is Rs. 211.513 million.
Larkano: Paving the way for Prosperity
Budget Speech
of Zila Nazim Indeed it’s a matter of great honour for me to present the second annual budget for the year 2007-2008, which is second budget of my term. This is a tax free budget & as compared to previous budget this is a 22% surplus budget.
Before proceeding to present my speech I wish to briefly deliberate on our pre-election promises we made with electorates. We all should strive together to come up to the expectations of our voters and help to reduce their grievances and meet their health & ducational needs. In my previous budget, I pointed out towards the poor state of our academic & poor delivery of health services & other problems. Most of the schools are closed due to want of teachers. Similarly due to shortage of doctors at most of the places the hospitals are being run by the dressers or dispensers, which is unfortunate. Here I feel proud to disclose that despite administrative & other problems we have succeeded in overcoming those problems with the cooperation of our elected officials. Mr. Convenor Sir, I have always strived to create an exemplany coordination among the government officials & the elected officials of the District Government System. And with the extraordinary support & cooperation of Mr. Muhammad Naseer Jamali, the District Coordination Officer we have again succeeded in forming up an ideal working environment in our district. The summary of details of our team work are as below: During the last fiscal year (2006-2007) at least 48 development schemes were completed by the June 2007. those included 13 roads, 10 buildings & 25 water supply schemes. It is again worth to mention that the provincial government as compared to previous year has increased the distribution share by 22%. For your perusal & approval I do here with present budget assessment of the year 2007-2008 and revised budget of the year 2006-2007 and development budget book volume (v).
Details of annual development for the year 2007-2008 are as below: Under ADP Rs. 310.00 millions have been earmarked. Out of which Rs. 232.500 would be allocated for the on going development schemes. Where as Rs. 77.500 millions have been earmarked for the new programes. Out of which 25% i.e Rs. 17.500 millions have been allocated for the CCBs, while the remaining amount of Rs. 58.125 million would be spared for the next schemes which are likely to be launched in the future. As compared to the previous fiscal year as many as 70 more schemes would be added and completed. Those schemes included: 30 Roads schemes, 17 buildings, 16 education works, 1 health & 6 schemes of water supply. I am also delighted to express my satisfaction over the performance of works and servies department under the headship of Executive District Officer, Mr. Mukhtar Ali Janwari. His performance over the timely completion of development works or arranging programs for the VVIP deserve accolades. Mr. Convenor Sir, As you are fully aware that the district government has no exclusive source of income generation. While the discretion funds remain with the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister or the Chief Minister. For seeking the same we need political character, which was lacking in our predecessors. Here, I need it fit to point out towards the farsightedness of Mr. Haji Altaf Hussain Khan Unnar, the honorable minister of Water & Power & Relief, who with his untiring efforts got approved a bridge on river Indus connecting Larkano & Khairpur districts. The foundation stone laying ceremony of the same project was performed by the President General Pervaiz Musharraf. On this occasion I was endevoured to present my speech in which I identified number of problems faced to the district of Larkano and the President General Pervaiz Musharraf was very kind to us & accepting our demands approved following seven schemes which are in progress: 1. Larkano-Khairpur Bridge scheme and four connecting roads would cost Rs. 3 billions. 2. Up gradation of Chandka Medical College. 3. Expansion of Cardiology & Neurological departments. 4. Dual Carriage way of Rato Dero-Sehwan High way. 5. Five day flight facility at Moen jo Daro Airport. 6. Establishment of Engineering College on Moenjo Daro Road. 105 acres of land for the same has been allotted for the purpose. 7. Special Grant-in-Aid of Rs. 10 Crores for the development works in the district. Prior to the visit of President of Pakistan, Sindh Chief Minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rabim during his visit to Baqrani on the invitation of Provincial minister Mr.Haji Altaf Hussain Khan Unnar, addressing a mammoth public meeting at various places he announced following development propects. 1. Rehabilitation of city roads of Larkano. 2. Establishment of Taluka Complex at Beqrani which included construction of residences for the officials. 3. construction of 50-beded hospital for the Khair Muhammad Arija Town, Taluka Beqrani. As compared to past times, we enabled to received special grants from the provincial government during the year 2006-2007. The details are as below: 1. Rs. 100.0 million for Sindh Education Reforms Program. 2. Rs. 45.361 million under SDSSP during 2004-2005, Rs. 36.963 millions in 2006-2007 and Rs. 35.219 million are yet to be released which have been allocated for health & education sectors. 3. Whereas Rs. 110.00 million were granted by the Chief Minister for the rural development out of which Rs. 42.618 million were released & have been duly utilized. 4. For current fiscal Rs. 15,000,000 have been earmarked for the emergency relief. 5. Rs. 50,00,000 have been earmarked for the deceased employees in the current fiscal. 6. NARIM, the project commissioned by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) has been completed and the website of the district government is near to its completion. Health Section During the last year Rs. 1,90,18000 millions were spent on the purchase of medicines. The stock of medicines were distributed in two Tehseels’ 5 RHCs, 28 BHUs, a liprocy centre, a Shifa Khana, 21 dispensaries and a lot of medical camps. During the same period Rs. 4,00,000 were spent on the purchase of As V & ARV vaccines. Owing to lack of medical health facilities in the rural areas and in the larger public interest it has been decided to hand over 47 BHUs to the president primary health initiative from July 2007. With this the presence of doctors in the rural areas has been ensured and a lady doctor will be able to visit those areas one’s a week. In return to this facility the district government would pay Rs. 1 crore & sixty lacs annually to PPHI. Education Sector For this sector the district government spare 65% for the salaries and development. In addition to this the provincial & the federal government also contribute. It is a matter of great deplorably deteriorated. Most of the primary schools in the areas were rendered closed due to detailment policy under which 350 teachers got themselves transferred to city areas. We have cancelled those detailments and 48 out of 135 schools have been re-opened & made functional. The taluka wise breakup of primary schools is as below:
I am all for the down trodden people and I consider their grievances as my own. I shall strive hard to come up to their expectations. I also urge the monitoring committees to be active and ensure the revival of academic & health related activities in the district. Agriculture Sector Agriculture is a backbone of our over all economy. As a past practice this time also a sufficient amount of Rs. 78.8521 millions have been earmarked for the agriculture sector. In order to increase the agricultural yield a target from 1,25,056 hectors to 1,26,806 hectors has been set.
Muhammad Bux Arejo
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