Three-member government team has failed to allay the reservations of the leadership of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) during a meeting held in Karachi, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

Though the leader of the government’s team Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar once again tried to assure the GDA leadership that their concerns will be removed but the Alliance leaders insisted on solving the basic problems of the province.

The government delegation left the meeting with GDA leaders including Pir Sibghatullah Rashdi after listening to the long list of demands of the Alliance leadership. 

During the meeting, GDA leader Pir Sadruddin Shah reminded Asad Umar that before him (minister) Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi came and before him Jahangir Tareen was here. “Who will come after you,” he asked Asad Umar.

“Imran Ismael (Sindh Governor) sits in Karachi and Muhammadmian Soomro was also governor once. Problems are solved through strategy and the government should make one,” Pir Sadruddin advised Asad Umar.

The GDA leadership asked the government team why they are not using the Council of Common Interests (CCI) forum which is meant to resolve the issues among the provinces. “Our federal minister Fehmida Mirza has extended total cooperation regarding the solution of the provinces’ problems. She even moved a summary regarding the CCI meeting, but it ended up whose table nobody knows,” the leadership added.

“The NAB should take practical steps while dealing with the corrupt. Why electricity and gas are costly when companies like Hesco, Sesco, Sui Southern Gas are under the control of the federal government,” the GDA leaders asked.

They demanded of the federal government that the educated youth of the Sindh province should be given jobs in the federal departments. “There has been an alarming rise in poverty in Sindh due to the coronavirus pandemic,” they added.

They maintained that they have sided with the government for the resolution of the province’s issues and for the development and progress of the country.

The GDA leadership asked the government team that Centre should start a mega project in the province so that people can see the journey to progress.

Pir Sadruddin said instead of sacking workers of Pakistan Steel Mills, the PSM should be revived through such a system that it earns profit so that the mill can provide job safety to its workforce. “Provinces should be handed over complete NFC share and annual audit should also be carried out,” he added.

The GDA leadership said the Centre must ensure the availability of Sindh’s water share as per the 1991 Water Accord. “Inter-provincial coordination should be promoted if the government wants to take the province along,” the leadership added.

The development came at a crucial time for the federal government as it strives to woo back its allies from Balochistan. BNP-M’s Akhtar Mengal has already quit the PTI-led coalition. JWP leader Shazain Bugti has also issued an ultimatum to the government.