‘MQM awaits practical steps by PPP before considering Bilawal’s offer’

Karachi mayor says MQM's reservations should be addressed

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar has said, "In the past, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was used for forming governments and now efforts are being made to use it for toppling a government."

The mayor's remarks came in light of the recent developments in the political arena, with Pakistan Peoples Party eyeing a coalition with MQM-Pakistan to bring down the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government at the Centre. He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony on Thursday, held to mark the distribution of furniture worth Rs9.4 million for 900 students at eight schools in Korangi, donated by DevCon, an association working for rural development.

Speaking on the occasion, Akhtar said that the party had not rejected PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's offer to break off their alliance with PTI in exchange for ministries in the Sindh outright, as it awaited PPP taking practical measures in this regard before seriously considering the proposition. "[Making] only political statement will not suffice," he added.

"We are ready to cooperate [with PPP] for Sindh's interests but first, our reservations need to be addressed," the mayor said.

Elaborating further, Akhtar maintained that steps needed to be taken to ensure the fair distribution of power and resources at the local government level and only then would his party be able to decide clearly regarding the PPP leader's offer. He said that the people of Sindh are were looking to the federal and the provincial governments to resolve their problems.

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He also stressed the need for the execution of projects for Sindh's development, in accordance with the agreement made with the PTI.

The need for education

Later, the mayor lauded DevCon for working for children's welfare, economic growth of women and provision of education since 1998. He expressed gratitude over the association providing assistance to the local government departments in the area of education while emphasising the importance of education.

"Education is of immense significance but minimal funds have been allocated to the sector throughout the 73-year-long history [of Pakistan]," the mayor lamented. "It is unfortunate that education has not been the topmost priority [of the government] and this is the reason we are lagging behind [others] in the area."

Akhtar deemed that the condition of the education sector would have been worse in the country had non-governmental organisations and private sector not contributed towards its uplift.

Korangi DMC Chairperson Syed Nayyar Raza, who also addressed the ceremony, said that the local government body had been striving to provide furniture to the schools in Korangi since 2016, when the local government system was introduced, but could not do so due to lack of resources.

As the ceremony neared its conclusion, DevCon CEO Nisar Ahmed Nizamani and DevCon Coordinator Nasreen Memon informed the audience about various endeavours undertaken by the association.

As many as 900 desks, tables, book shelves, laboratory shelves and other furniture were distributed among schools at the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2020.