No more powers for mayor: CM

Murad Ali Shah dismisses opposition's criticism during Sindh Assembly session

KARACHI: Dismissing all the criticism and allegations brought forward by the opposition during the budget discussion in the Sindh Assembly in the last few days, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah vehemently defended his government on Thursday.

"Don't demand more powers. Please stop asking for powers for China cutting and terrorist activities in Karachi," said the CM while responding to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPAs who were demanding more powers for the mayor during Sindh Assembly budget session on Thursday.

Concluding his budget speech, the CM said the local government law was passed by the assembly and powers have been given to mayor and other LG representative as per the law. "The Supreme Court in its verdict has accepted this law and ordered us to hold the local government elections under this act," the CM said, adding that the MQM had been threatening the provincial government for the last four years to approach the courts seeking powers for the mayor, as enshrined in Article 140-A but this has never happened. He suggested the MQM leaders move an amendment to the law and get it passed by the assembly if they had any reservations.



Shah also came down hard on MQM MPAs who demanded a separate province in Sindh. Those, who were making such demands, were living in a fool's paradise, he said.

Responding to opposition lawmakers' speeches on the budget,  the CM said out of the Rs225 billion development budget of the outgoing year, which is going to expire on June 30, the  finance department released Rs210 billion and the government spent Rs161 billion for far. According to the CM, the government released Rs8 billion to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for development schemes in the city but no one knew where the amount was being utilised.

The CM maintained that the government allocated Rs10 billion for the Karachi package and has so far spent Rs7 billion. Many schemes in the city, including the construction of Tariq Road, University Road and Sharae Faisal, have been completed and dozens of other roads, parks and sewerage projects in Saddar and other older areas of the city are in the process of completion, he said. "The mayor is now protesting against us because he demanded an extra Rs9 billion. I asked him to focus on ongoing schemes for which the Sindh government has already released Rs8 billion to him [before asking for more funds]. Instead, he came out on the roads," the CM said, adding that he will cooperate with the mayor for the sake of Karachi.



Refuting claims that the government was unfair in funds allocation to Karachi, the CM said the government has allocated more than Rs70 billion for Karachi and will again make it into the city of lights. "No division of Sindh has received such a large amount of funds like those earmarked for Karachi," the CM said, adding that the government does not believe in urban and rural division.

Commenting on the raise in salaries of government employees, the CM said federal government has given a 10% raise, but the Sindh government enhanced the salary of government employees by 15%. "We have kept Rs3.5 billion for 1.7 million poor families. Each family will be given Rs2,000 this month," he added.

Rebutting opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan's claim that 92 taxes have been included in the budget, the CM said no new tax has been introduced by the provincial government but five direct and 10 indirect taxes have been imposed. "We have levied these taxes for many years now," he said.



The CM also rejected the opposition's claim that the government is only developing areas considered strongholds of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). "We have overhauled the drainage system in Saddar and Empress Market at an estimated cost of Rs660 million, while Rs130 million has been spent in Clifton where candidates of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf have won the elections," he declared.

Responding to opposition's criticism of PPP protests against the Centre, the CM said despite producing 70% of gas and oil of the country, Sindh receives little of these resources. Apart from this, hours-long load-shedding has created problems for people, forcing the party to take to streets against the federal government.

The CM also refuted claims that the 100 megawatt (MW) power plant in Nooriabad has been established to supply power to Bahria Town.

Unfounded allegations are being hurled against the Sindh government, the CM remarked. "The days are gone when budgetary funds used to be bungled or misappropriated. Everything will be done in a transparent manner," he summed up.