CM in action: ‘Garbage as big a challenge as target killers, terrorists’

Murad Ali Shah urges local bodies to perform, be part of his team

KARACHI: People of Karachi have suffered a lot at the hands of target killers and terrorists and now, when law and order has been restored, the lifting of garbage has become a big challenge, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Monday.

"Karachiites, including myself, are very annoyed," said Shah, while presiding over a meeting at the New Sindh Secretariat.



The chief minister (CM) said his government was being criticised for the garbage accumulated everywhere. "This is a very serious situation and the complaints and protests of the people are manifestations of their annoyance," he said, adding that this is the time to give the people some relief.

Frontline sweeping and lifting of garbage cannot be done properly as there is a shortage of sweepers, said the deputy commissioners and administrators of district municipal corporations (DMC) at the meeting.

"I know you have Muslim sweepers [too]. DMC administrators should go and ask them [sweepers] to return to work and remove those who fail to do so," said Shah, directing them to ensure that sweepers wear uniforms. The CM allowed the administrators to appoint sweepers on a daily-wage basis.

The meeting was told that the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) is dumping garbage in Malir River and at Qayyumabad. On this matter, Shah asked the commissioner to speak to the DHA administrator and get the matter resolved. "I am also fed up with complaints of encroachment by pathara (road-side vendors) and other such make-shift establishments," he said, directing the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation administrator and DMCs to get anti-encroachment police from the Board of Revenue (BoR) to get them removed.

The DMCs were further directed to remove garbage from prominent roads such as II Chundrigar, Mai Kolachi, Expressway, Korangi Road, Abul Hassan Isphahani Road, University Road, Sharae Faisal, main roads of District Central and others. "The garbage and debris lying there must be lifted and saplings be planted along the roads," said Shah.

It was pointed out that the garbage lifted from frontlines is dumped at play grounds and parks. Turning parks and play grounds into 'garbage transfer stations' is unacceptable at any cost, said Shah, adding that there should be designated dumping spots with signs near them for public knowledge.

All the DMCs, KMC and deputy commissioners were told to furnish an inventory of their refuse vehicles and machinery at the CM's principal secretary's office. "Your inventory must have columns of the vehicle/machinery on-road, off-road and requirement, so that action can be taken accordingly," ordered Shah.



Shah said that he had been seeing presentations and briefings for many years, but now wants results. "You have to work hard. Your hard work is your biggest `sifarish', otherwise I will not listen to any recommendation," Shah said, categorically.

Rs100m for Darul Sukoon

Meanwhile, during a visit to Kashyana-e-Atfal-o-Naunihal and Darul Sukoon, Shah said that it is great worship to look after special children and orphans. "The height of your worship is when you make them [special children and orphans] useful members of society," he said while attending Independence Day programmes at the centre.

The children presented tableaus on national songs, while Shah mingled with the children and presented them gifts, buntings and national flags.

The CM announced Rs100million for Darul Sukoon to construct a new building so the institution may accommodate more children. "I am impressed with their [Darul Sukoon's] service and will be playing my role to help," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2016.