KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah Sunday said land will be distributed among women from December 1.

Addressing a press conference here, the Chief Minster pointed out that abundant crop of rice has been achieved this year as a result of the policies being pursued by the government.

He said good quality seeds are being imported from China for ensuring better crop.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah said most of the sugar mills are starting the sugar cane crushing from today.

Provincial ministers, Shazia Marri, Zulfiqar Mirza, Makhdoom Jamil-uz-Zaman and others were also present on the occasion.

KARACHI: Sindh Government has ordered fool-proof security arrangements on the occasion of the upcoming National Finance Commision Award conference to be held on November 18-19 at a local hotel.

Chief Ministers of all the four provinces, federal and provincial finance ministers, and their secretaries along with others are scheduled to participate in this conference.

The participants are expected to pay a visit to Quaid-e-Azam’s tomb and a banquet is planned for the participating officials by Chief Minister Sindh.

Chief Secretary Sindh has directed the officials of relevant departments to organize the NFC award meeting, whereas, Interior Minster Sindh, I.G Sindh, and police chiefs are ordered to take stringent security arrangements for this conference.

HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah Monday said the alliance between Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement is in the interest of the province.

Talking to journalists here at Hyderabad Press Club, the Chief Minister said the PPP-MQM alliance is not a temporary one; it will continue even after the next general elections.

He said PPP did not come in power through any back door, but it was the power of people’s mandate which elected the party to form the government.

“Sindh fought its case on the basis of Constitution,” Qaim Ali Shah said, adding, the province will get Rs25 billion in services tax under NFC.

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Salman Taseer called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at State Guest House Lahore, Geo News reported Sunday.

Taseer apprised the premier of the overall political and law and order situation and other important issues in the meeting.

Both the leaders discussed the matters of mutual interest.

KARACHI: Various political leaders including Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani condemned the suicide blast in Peshawar area of Matni’s Livestock Market in strong words, Geo News reported Sunday.

The federal ministers Ahmed Mukhtar and Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also condemned the blast that took the lives of at least 12 people.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah also condemned the recent terror attack in Peshawar.

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) like-minded group General Secretary Humayoun Akhtar also expressed deep grief over the blast.

GILGIT: Rahim Nawaz Khan Durrani Tuesday took oath as first chief election commissioner of Gilgit-Baltistan administered by Chief Justice of Gilgit-Baltistan, Mohammad Nawaz Abassi.

There are at least 280 candidates left in field for the GB Legislature.

According to the final list issued by the first CEC of Gilgit-Baltistan, the most candidates are participating from LA-14, Ustur-2; only two candidates are taking part from LA-12, Skardu6, which is the least number of participants from a constituency.

MQM and PPP are running in close competition against each other.

A total of 370 nominations were received for 24 seats of Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly out of which 80 candidates have withdrawn.

KARACHI: Sindh government Tuesday announced to close all the educational institutions in the entire province following the bombings at Islamic University of Islamabad; while the private and government universities will remain closed tomorrow to open on Thursday.

According to a press release issued by the Sindh government, all the private and government educational institutions will remain closed till October 24.

Announcements regarding keeping the universities closed tomorrow (October 21) have been made by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and the chancellors of universities in the province.

According to Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman said the schools and colleges will remain closed in view of security concerns in the province.

Meantime, a press release issued by Regional Directorate Colleges Karachi said the interviews for various vacancies to be held tomorrow have been postponed and new dates would be announced soon.

Also, Registrars of Federal Urdu University and NED announced to keep their universities closed tomorrow. According to NED University Registrar, the papers to be held on October 21 have been postponed and new dates would be announced later.

Matriculation Board also announced that all the supplementary exams occurring on October 21 and 22 have been put off; new dates would be announced soon.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani is in progress at the Parliament House, which is believed to be mulling over formulating a comprehensive strategy for combating sugar flour crisis in the country as well as ensuring the regular supply chains of the consumers’ essential items forthwith.

Sindh Chief Minister (CM), Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Punjab CM, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Balochistan CM, Aslam Raisani and Frontier CM, Amir Haider Khan Hoti are also attending the meeting.

It may be recalled that the federal cabinet meeting was delayed due to security apprehensions, which led to the change of its venue from prime minister secretariat to the parliament house.

The meeting would also take up Education Policy-2009 besides finalizing cotton support price and law and order situation across the country.

ISLAMABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah Thursday said National Finance Commission (NFC) would be finalized in the next month and this will be for five years.

Talking to media after the meeting, previously, non-elected representatives of the provinces used to designate various personalities over NFC Award; however, now consensus decision would be taken up in the presence of elected representatives.

Qaim said agenda has been finalized in today’s session with issues including hydel projects, taxes on services and GDS put on the agenda.

‘Pakistan would be strengthened with provinces and the provinces would be strengthened with the acquisition of more funds for them.

Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said a dictator gave the previous NFC Award where the public representatives were not fully authorized, adding the provinces were not consulted in the said Award.

He said all constitutional requirements have been met for the Award, adding every province put up its stance at the meeting quite candidly.

He said the efforts are aimed at presenting the NFC Award in September.

The next NFC Award meetings would be held in all the provinces starting with Balochistan, he added.

SEHWAN SHARIF: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the government wants to keep the Local Bodies government system intact, Geo news reported Wednesday.

He said the Nazims have completed their terms in office; now they are advised against creating any scene on the issue, adding the government does not want to uproot the LB government system.

The Sindh CM said, ‘The present LB systems have some faults, which should be set right.’

The provinces want more autonomy for them, he added.

Responding a question over Rehman Dakait’s killing, the CM Shah said the inquiry is afoot.