Daily Times

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday took a serious notice of a video that went viral on news channel and social media in which a cleric was beating children in a mosque in Hyderabad and directed the commissioner [Hyderabad] to submit a report on the incident and take appropriate measure.

While talking to the commissioner on telephone, the chief minister said that torture and humiliation of children was unacceptable at any cost. “These innocent children are future of our country and we have to educate and train them with love, affection and care,” he said.

Commissioner Abbas Baloch told the chief minister that Qari Shabir Ahmed had punished some children for being irregular. He said that the cleric had been arrested.

The chief minister said that he had directed the School Education secretary and religious affairs secretary to work out a programme or scheme for counseling of teachers.

“Gone are the days when children were beaten severely by teachers. Now children are quite sharp and well aware of their rights, therefore they must be taught by their teachers with modern techniques and care.

He directed the commissioner to issue guidelines for teachers of all seminaries in this regard.

Separately, Syed Murad Ali Shah said suspension of gas supply in the province had affected a large number of people and also caused unemployment.

He said this during a meeting with Federal Minister for Petroleum Ghulam Sarwar Khan on Friday.

“Sindh produces 2,600 to 2,700 million cubic feet gas per day while the quota the province receiving is one thousand to 1100 mmcfd. Karachi has 400 industrial units and over one million of workforce that has been affected due to low supply of gas.”

The chief minister asked the federal minister to lift the ban on providing new connections to domestic consumers in Karachi. He was of the view that domestic consumers should get benefit of gas on priority.

The chief minister also asked the minister to give representation to Sindh in gas companies.

Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister for Petroleum termed the meeting as successful. He asked the Sindh government to form a committee in this regard. During the meeting, it was also decided to give representation to provinces in OGDCL, SSGC, SNGC and other gas companies.

Published in Daily Times, December 15^th 2018.