Sindh

Centre to launch ‘Clean Karachi’ drive on Sunday

Celebrities, business community endorse and pledge support for the initiative

Sameer Mandhro August 02, 2019

A woman retrieves her belongings from her house that has been flooded by rain water in a low-lying area of the city. The first spell of monsoon rain wreaked havoc in the city as the storm water drains were choked and did not allow water to pass through. PHOTOS: INP

KARACHI: After the recent tussle between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Member of National Assembly Alamgir Khan with the Sindh government over the issue of solid waste management in the city, the PTI leadership has vowed to clean the port city in the next two weeks.

The drive to clean Karachi will kick off on Sunday and will continue for two weeks. Over 15 private companies, celebrities and around 5,000 volunteers have pledged their support for the campaign on the call of Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, the federal minister for Maritime Affairs.

In a tweet on Wednesday evening, Zaidi said that he, with the help of the citizens, will clean up Karachi in the next two weeks. Endorsing his call, hundreds of party supporters as well as various private entities asked the federal minister to include them in the 'Clean Karachi' drive.

CJP gives a week to clean Karachi

The campaign

Speaking about the initiative, PTI's leaders said that the drive is being launched on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan in response to the letter written to him by Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar. On Tuesday, the mayor sought help from Zaidi to help him as most of the city's low-lying areas had been swamped by the recent downpour that continued for two consecutive days. The mayor also appealed to PM Khan to help the people of the port city.

PTI's Karachi based leadership says that all 13 major nullahs chocked with garbage and dirt will be cleaned. In the second phase, they will lift garbage from all areas of the city.

"Anyone can join us," said Zaidi's advisor and the party's provincial head of public relations, Azhar Laghari. He said that even the Sindh government can join hands with the federal government. "It is the federal government's initiative and it wants a clean Karachi."

He said that the garbage collected from the city will not be dumped at landfill sites. "We are trying to devise a strategy so it can be utilised efficiently in the future," said Laghari. To make the drive effective, camps will be set up at various points. Volunteers will also create public awareness, he added.

At monsoon’s mercy: Karachi drains being cleaned at snail’s pace

Sharing details of a long term plan to clear the garbage in the city, Laghari said that his party plans to utilise the funds allocated by the federal government for Karachi. The PM has especially allocated Rs42.2 billion for the city and the federal government wants a permanent solution to the problem, he claimed.

Following the announcement of the federal minister, the Karachi Port Trust has already started cleaning areas within its jurisdiction. "It's an unprecedented support for this kind of drive," said Laghari.

Responding to Zaidi's call, PTI's Khurram Sher Zaman said that PM Imran Khan's directive to the federal minister must be appreciated. He also lauded other federal agencies for helping the people of Karachi during the rain emergency.

Karachi's power supply company, which has badly been criticised for its performance during the torrential rains, immediately offered full support for the minister's initiative, saying it will help in every way possible.

Renowned singer, Shehzad Roy, also appreciated Zaidi's call. "You revived the issue of dumping untreated sewage in the sea recently and now you have taken up let's clean Karachi. Demonstrates you care about this city and our country. I will go to any extent to support you in this cause," he tweeted.

Besides, other celebrities such as renowned playwright, Anwar Maqsood, and Pakistani music band, Strings, have also pledged their support for the drive, appealing to residents to support the minister for a clean Karachi.

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry and other trade associations have also extended their support.

In a statement on Thursday, former KCCI president, Siraj Kassam Teli, pointed out that Karachi had been largely ignored in the past, but it was really heartening to see that the incumbent federal government was exhibiting the intent and seriousness towards improving the standard of living in the city and paying special attention to the issues faced by its residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2019.