SUKKUR: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has dispelled the impression being created by certain forces that the federal government had already started work on digging six controversial canals. He was speaking to the media after inaugurating the Centre for Autism Rehabilitation and Training (C-ART) in the city on Tuesday. Mr Shah pointed out that canal disputes were under a review in the Council of Common Interests (CCI). “No work is currently being carried out on the canals,” he categorically stated. Commenting on political situation in the country, he stressed that all four provinces must work together for the betterment of the country. “[We should] think about the country’s progress first, not about sending someone to jail,” he remarked. In reply to a question, he said he was unaware about Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) having given a call for civil disobedience. “I am focused on my work and paying attention to the issues at hand,” he said. The chief minister announced his plan to relocate the Anti-Encroachment Court from the building of the Autism Centre to a more suitable location. “If necessary, even the commissioner and deputy commissioner should vacate their offices to accommodate the court, but the building currently housing the courts are meant for the children with autism,” he said. Regarding the law and order in the riverine areas of the province, the CM expressed his satisfaction over the success achieved in the ongoing operations. “A number of dacoits have been neutralised … I have directed the officials concerned to get the cleared areas developed by building roads, hospitals and schools to benefit the local population,” he said. Earlier, speaking at the C-ART inauguration ceremony, the CM said the centre’s Sukkur unit represented a significant milestone in the Sindh government’s broader initiative to create a province-wide network of autism care centers. He said that this unit was the latest addition to C-ART expanding network, which began in 2018 with its flagship centre being in Karachi. “Over the years, the initiative has expanded to include facilities in Hyderabad and Gambat, benefiting hundreds of families,” he said, adding that these centres provided various services, including early intervention programmes, skill development, and education, enabling autistic individuals to realise their potential. The CM noted that the unit was equipped with modern resources and a team of dedicated professionals specialising in autism care and rehabilitation. The event was attended by Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, Minister for Planning and Development Syed Nasir Shah, Minister of Excise and Taxation Mukesh Kumar Chawla, MPA Syed Farrukh Shah, Sukkur Commissioner Fayaz Abbasi, and other notables. CM Murad Ali Shah also inaugurated the Science Lab and Creative Art Centre at the IBA campus. Speaking at the ceremony, he said his government, in collaboration with the Sukkur IBA University, celebrates two transformative initiatives -- the Peoples Information Technology Programme (PITP) and the establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (CRAIB) and Blockchain in a significant effort to promote technological innovation and economic empowerment. He said these programmes underscore the provincial government’s commitment to uplifting communities, bridging the digital divide and preparing the youth for a technology-driven future. He said that the PITP, launched as part of the Pro-Poor Capacity Building Programme, represented a historic investment of Rs500 million aimed at enhancing IT-related skills across Sindh. He said that the programme had been implemented through three premier universities -- NED University of Engineering & Technology in Karachi, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology in Jamshoro, and Sukkur IBA University. “This programme is reshaping the province’s educational and economic landscape,” he said. Mr Shah said that with an ambitious goal of training 13,428 individuals by May 2025, PITP equipped students and professionals with certifications in cutting-edge technologies, including Java development, data science and digital marketing. He said that the programme’s impact was evident from the fact that the first batch had graduated 1,714 students, who now served as pioneers in Sindh’s IT landscape. The second batch, he added, was currently under way, with an additional 4,000 trainees on track to complete their training. Earlier, IBA University Vice Chancellor Asif Shaikh briefed the chief minister about the newly constructed building and CRAIB programme. The CM awarded medals and certificates to the successful graduates of the PITP. During his visit to the city, the chief minister also visited the Sukkur Sports Complex to review progress of construction work. Minister of Sports and Agriculture Mohammad Bux Mahar and Secretary Sports Aleem Khan gave him a detailed briefing on the project. The CM noted that 80pc of the work had been completed. The complex will feature facilities for cricket, football, squash, tennis, volleyball and other sports with the aim of hosting both national and international events as well. The CM said that the foundation stone of the complex was laid on April 5, 1996 by former prime minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.