'Dire need to clean filth from rulers' minds'

PSP chief says Sindh CM trying to create an impression that Karachi is in better shape than before

KARACHI:

There is a dire need to clear the filth from the minds of the rulers of Karachi, rather than just cleaning the garbage from the port city, said Pak Sarzameen Party chairperson Syed Mustafa Kamal on Tuesday.

He reiterated that for the past few days, Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah had been trying to create an impression that Karachi was in much better shape than it used to be.

"Ten years ago, not only the Pakistani media but even the international media used to give examples of Karachi's development," said Kamal. "It was one of the 12 fastest growing cities in the world a decade ago, but today it is one of the four worst cities to live in the world."

Though the Sindh CM believed that Karachi was in the best state at the moment, the fact was that the economic jugular of the country was sinking due to the poor strategies of the corrupt and incompetent rulers, he insisted.

"The conscienceless rulers who ignore Karachi as just a city should understand that the destruction of Karachi is the destruction of Pakistan," he maintained.

Kamal further commented on the emotional press conference by outgoing Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Monday, stating that he could have become a hero for the city had he resigned from his post by holding a similar press conference in 2017.

Talking about the 18th Amendment, he maintained that provincial chief ministers had become powerful after it was enacted rather than power being devolved to the districts, which was against the spirit of the amendment.

Yet again calling for launching a Provincial Finance Commission Award similar to the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, he suggested that the federal government refrain from issue the NFC Award unless the provinces ensured transfer of powers and resources to the districts, while also restoring Karachi to a single district under a mayor's unity of command.