‘PTI undecided on MQM-P partnership for LG polls’
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is yet to decide on entering into an alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan for the upcoming local government elections, stated Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Sunday.
Speaking to media persons after laying down the foundation of a tree plantation drive at Kidney Hill Park to mark Tiger Force Day, the governor stressed the need for appointing “neutral” persons as local government administrators, particularly in Sindh.
“Persons who are not affiliated with any political party and will work without any bias to serve the public should be appointed as local government administrators,” he insisted.
Rain and the aftermath
The governor also criticised the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board for “failing to clean and maintain the city,” saying that the task could only be accomplished by giving the mayor the responsibility for the metropolis’ upkeep.
“After the fourth rain spell, Karachi’s situation would have been much worse had the National National Disaster Management Authority and Frontier Works Organisation not started cleaning three major nullahs here,” he added.
Seeking other options
Meanwhile, given the dire state of electricity supply in Karachi, mayor Wasim Akhtar appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to let K-Electric (KE) - the sole power utility supplying electricity to the metropolis - obtain LNG to meet the city’s electricity demand or allow other companies to distribute electricity here.
Speaking during the ceremony where Ismail planted a tree at Jheel Park, the mayor lamented that Karachi continued to suffer prolonged load-shedding despite KE’s assurances to put an end to the port city’s misery. He also pointed out that the federal government was responsible for providing gas and furnace oil to KE.
Tree plantation
Ismail told the media that the plantation drive was launched on the PM’s directives to mark Tiger Force Day, and relevant authorities intended to plant at least 13,000 trees in Kidney Hill Park.
Stressing the importance for increasing green cover in the city, he said, “Planting trees will increase the production of oxygen and revive the city’s beauty.” He added that it was the need of the hour to keep climate change and its impacts at bay as he apprised the media of the PM’s commitment to plant 10 billion trees during his five-year tenure. “He [PM Khan] is well aware of the risk posed by climate change.”
Ismail also emphasised raising awareness about the benefits of planting trees, saying that plantation drives would be ineffectual without broader participation. He further said that no illegal construction on park land would be allowed and land reserved for the construction of parks would only be used for that purpose.
In response to a question, he lauded the efforts of municipal commissioner Dr Saifur Rehman and the mayor for the restoration of Kidney Hill Park, adding that he would invite the PM to see its transformation while he would be visiting Karachi on August 12. “But the condition of [the rest of] Karachi is heart-wrenching, and the PM is determined to change it,” the governor remarked.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2020.