Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali has said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, during his recent visit to Karachi, told him that the federal government could not run three hospitals, NICVD, JPMC and NICH, therefore he gave provincial government go ahead to operate them. He said that during the discussion, the prime minister said that he knew how difficult it was to run a hospital, therefore the provincial government has to run these three hospitals. This he said while talking to media just after inaugurating seven-day polio eradication drive by administering polio drop to children at Rural Health Centre, Baldia here on Monday morning. To a question, the chief minister said that during the recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan the issue of administrative control of three hospitals, JPMC, NICVD and National Institute of Child Health (NICH) came under discussion. The prime minister said he was well aware that how difficult it was to run a hospital, therefore he gave him [CM] go ahead to control these three hospitals. Shah said that he has given two options to the federal government. “Under the option number one the federal government can give these three hospitals on the pattern of PPP mode to Sindh government. The option number two is to hand over the provincial government to operate the hospitals under its administration,” he said and added if the federal government was serious to operate these hospitals he would have no objection but then they [fed govt] would have to return the money his government has been investing in these health facilities from 2011 as was directed by the federal government. Replying to a question about increase in the polio cases, the chief minister said that a problem was created against polio vaccine in KPK, therefore the drive had come to standstill and we could not launch it in last March. “The recent increase of 19 cases in 2019 is the result of that stalemate, otherwise we had controlled the polio and we had only one case in 2017,” he said. He said that during this year, 2020 so far five polio cases have been detected. “This is seriously a painful development for me because I have been making efforts to control it but so far negative results have come up,” he deplored. Shah said that in November, there should have been the meeting of National Polio Eradication Taskforce under the Prime Minister but it could be called. He added that now the strategy have been changed to involve local bodies, civil society and parents of the children to save our future generation from the crippling disease. “This is the question of our children – parents must decide whether they want to give healthy future to their children or disability for whole life,” he asked and urged the parents all over Pakistan, particularly in Sindh to be responsible to give polio drops to their children and ensure their healthy future. Murad Ali Shah said that 2.3 million children would be targeted in the 7-day campaign he has launched at Rural Health Centre. Another campaign from February 17 would be launched in others districts of the province with a target of 6.7 million children and urged the parents to administer polio drops to their children at hospitals if any of the child was left over. He thanked to the 13,000 workers participating in polio drive and also thanked to the law enforcement agencies personnel who were giving them security. “All this is being done for the betterment of our children,” he said. Replying to another question, the chief minister said that the local bodies have to start drive against stray dogs. “I have given them instructions to start special drive and save people, particularly the children from dog bites,” he said. On pointation of a resident of Baldia, the chief minister directed health department to complete under construction 100-beded hospital at the earliest. However, the secretary health told the chief minister that the RHC Baldia have almost all the facilities, including of Gynaecologist. He vowed to personally monitor the completion of Baldia Hospital. To a question, the chief minister said that his meeting with the Governor was a routine sitting. “We have been meeting of and on and there was nothing new in our meeting,” he said. Talking about IG Police, the chief minister said that he has sent five names to the federal government to appoint of them as new IG Police “The removal of the IGP was the decision of the cabinet and being chief minister he is bound to honour the cabinet decision,” he said and added the ball was in the court of the federal government and delay in posting new IGP was beyond his understanding Earlier, when the chief minister reached RHC Baldia, he was received by Minister Health Dr Azra Pechuho, Secretary Health Zahid Abbasi, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani, and Program Manager of anti-polio drive. Meanwhile, Murad Ali Shah paid a surprise visit to Sindh Secretariat on Monday and expressed anger over absence of higher officers. According to details, after inaugurating an anti-polio drive in Baldia town, Chief Minister Murad reached the Tughlaq House of the Sindh Secretariat, where he paid surprise visits to Excise, Home, Labour and Agriculture departments and checked the attendance of the officers. He started his visit from Home department where all the officers, including secretary were not present. The chief minister expressed his displeasure. The private secretary of Home secretary told the chief minister that the secretary was in the court in connection with case. At this the chief minister said that of the secretary was not present where was the rest of staff. “Almost all the additional secretaries, deputy secretaries and section officers are absent,” he said and directed his principal secretary to call a report from Home Secretary. When the chief minister visited the office of Agriculture Department almost all the staff, including Secretary Agriculture was absent. He expressed serious displeasure and went from one office of the department to another and found most of them absent. He has called a report from the department to explain why they were not present. He also visited the offices of Labour, Transport and Irrigation department at Tughlaq House and found almost all the secretary, except Secretary Labour were absent. He talked to the secretary Irrigation Saeed Mangnijo who was away for meeting with his minister. The chief secretary directed him to send him report of the officers absent from their duty at 10 am. The chief minister also visited Education department and all the officers were also absent there. He went to room to room but hardly any section officer or the officer of senior level was present. He directed Principal Secretary to call a report from the department. At P&D the chief minister was received by Chairman P&D MWaseem who was present there. He took him around his floor where he found most of the chiefs and members absent. The chief minister directed Chairman P&D to send him a detailed report of the absentees. On his return, the chief minister visited Local Government Department and found all the staff members, mostly the senior ones absent from the duty. The secretary Local Government was in the court in connection with a case. The chief minister visited bio-matric unit and asked them to send him a detailed list of the staff who were present and those who were late. The chief minister went to his office at 7th floor of New Sindh Secretariat and held a meeting with Secretary General Administration Khlaid Hyder Shah. He also directed him to send him a detailed report of the officers present at New and old secretariat. — visits under construction parking: The chief minister along with Chairman P&D Mohammad Waseem visited under-construction car parking between SM law College and SM College near Sindh Secretariat. He also inspected sitting area which has been declared as recreational place where tuck shops, coffee shops, fast food restaurants were being visited where benches of granite have been established. In the centre of the each and every rectangular bench has been given a tree so that the visitor could sit under the shadow. The chief minister directed Chairman P&D to expedite completion of the parking and recreational area.