'Post-rain situation is not as bad as is being portrayed'

LG minister shifts blame of rain damage on KMC, DMCs non-utilisation of funds for cleaning nullahs

KARACHI: After the rains, the situation in Pakistan People's Party (PPP) stronghold, Lyari, was the worst and despite the passage of 24 hours, streets, schools, grounds and parks in Lyari continued to look like streams, creating immense difficulties for the locals.

The Lyari Stadium, which is also called the 'Peoples Stadium', Lyari General Hospital, Maulvi Usman Park, Lyari Eid Gah, Tannery Road, Chakiwara, Kalakot, Singhu Lane were the worst affected areas.

The knee-deep water in Government Girls Secondary School Genu Bai GAllana School in Gul Mohammad Lane has turned the school into a swimming pool. The school is submerged in stagnant water. "Since Thursday, I have been calling the local government minister and other concerned authorities. I was told that the local government minister was in Lyari, but he came here for a photo session and went without giving relief to the people," PPP leader Nabil Gabool said, adding that the same situation existed at Maulvi Usman Park.



A few people of Lyari protested in front of Lyari General Hospital and demanded the government drain out water from the 'People's Stadium' to enable them to offer their Eid prayers at the stadium today.

"We have repeatedly contacted Malik Fayyaz, the chairperson of District Municipal Corporation South but all in vain," said Akbar Baloch, who lives near Maulvi Usman Park.

The situation was also precarious in old city areas, including medicine market at Denso Hall, Lighthouse, Keamari, Kharadar and Lea Market.

Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro visited various rain affected areas.



Talking to the media, Shoro said that the government has cleared all main arteries like II Chundrigar Road, MA Jinnah Road, University Road, Surjani Road and others.

"The storm water drains are encroached and choked, which has created this situation. We had given Rs500 million to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Rs100 million to district municipal corporations for cleaning the nullahs, but they did not work on it," Shoro said, adding that some section of the media has created hype and the situation is not as bad as is being portrayed.

Responding to Gabool's allegations, he said, "We have spent most of our time in Lyari and cleared these areas. I cannot further comment on Gabool's accusation and demand to remove me," he said, referring to Gabool's appeal to the PPP leadership to replace the local government minister.



The minister further said that he has cancelled Eid holidays of local bodies' employees in Karachi to deal with rain issues.