Like most Karachiites, CM enjoys rain with tea and paratha

Shah points out that he was well aware of the city's issues

KARACHI: As a true Karachiite, the new Sindh chief minister also enjoyed the rare rainfall in the city with some tea and parathas.

Soon after the downpour began on Saturday morning, Murad Ali Shah and his entourage — which had special instructions to refrain from playing the hooters when driving around — went on a road trip around the city, inspecting cleaning work and marking areas was rainwater was clogged. He ended his tour near Empress Market in Saddar, where he sat down for tea and spoke to the media, accompanied by Karachi commissioner Ejaz Ahmed Khan and principal secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch.

Shah pointed out that he was well aware of the city's issues. "I was born here and I have ridden by bike on these roads and travelled on Karachi's passenger buses," he said, referring to the life he led as a student at NED University. His daily commute passed through Kalapul, Mehmoodabad, Chanesar Goth, Sharae Faisal, Civic Centre and University Road. "I know this city and I love it."

The continuous downpour had the new chief minister worried. "I was in touch with the commissioner and the KMC administrator to drain out rain water from the roads and the low-lying areas," he said. "I also spoke to K-Electric managing director to restore electricity from the areas where feeders had tripped."

Shah gave instructions to the commissioner and KMC officials to spring into action. "I want to see your workers in the field," he said, reiterating his commitment to make Karachi the city of lights once again. "I need your help," he said to every citizen of the city, regardless of class, religion or ethnicity. "Karachi is our home and it is our collective responsibility to keep our home neat and clean."

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2016.