KARACHI: The Sindh government believes in merit and transparency and all the positions created in the next budget would be given purely on merit through advertisement in the national newspapers. This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah while talking to a delegation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and notables of Khairpur at CM House on Sunday. He said that some people have started levelling baseless propaganda that a cell has been set up in CM House to distribute jobs among MPAs and MNAs on 50:50 ratio. Qaim Ali Shah said that his government is keen to provide job opportunities to unemployed youth. He said, “Employment is a key to eradicate social evils like poverty and various criminal activities and this is why over 40,000 job opportunities have been created.” The chief minister said that during the out going financial year, his government could not lift ban on recruitment because of local bodies election process. “Once local bodies election process is over ban on recruitment would be lifted and jobs would be given on merit”, he assured. The chief minister further said that the law and order has considerably improved all over Sindh province, particularly in Karachi. He said, “People are feeling peace, security and relief and they are going with their families for picnic and shopping centres. On this Eid, there would be record business because we have created friendly atmosphere for trade and commerce activities.” While talking about budget 2016-17, the chief minister termed it people-friendly budget and said that we would complete most of our development works in the next financial year and people of the province, particularly our opponents would witness a developed Sindh with their own eyes. The Sindh CM said, “Actually, they have nothing concrete to talk against Sindh government, therefore, they are saying that jobs would be doled out among MPAs and MNAs.” Qaim said that his government has given special focus to education. He said, “During the current year, we ensured teachers attendance in the schools and in the next financial year, focus would be on teachers training to improve their teaching capabilities.” While talking about agro-economy, he said that his government is working with federal government to reduce the prices of agricultural in-puts to pass on the benefit to growers. The chief minister admitted that the targets set for cotton production could not be achieved because of defective price mechanism policies of federal government. He urged the opponents of his government to stop the politics of rumours and extend helping hand towards the government to reduce poverty, improve health services and to serve people of Sindh province.