PPP responsible for destroying Karachi: Shibli

Information minister says recent rains have exposed incompetence of provincial government of Sindh

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Information Senator Shibli Faraz has blamed the PPP led Sindh government for “destroying” Karachi – the capital of Sindh province, claiming that God is exposing the provincial administration by sending down rain.

“Sindh government has always tried to hide its corruption and incompetence by blaming the federal government for all the problems. The PPP has just fallen short of blaming the federal government for torrential rains,” the minister said while addressing a press conference on Wednesday

Heavy rains on Tuesday wreaked havoc in Sindh, with the country’s financial hub Karachi battling record downpour that claimed the lives of at least five people and severed road access to entire localities.

As the scale of destruction became clearer during the day, large areas in Karachi were covered in water and mud. In some areas, floodwaters rose to the first story of small buildings.

“Sindh government is responsible for destroying Karachi. By looking at the situation of urban Sindh, one can guess what will be the plight of people of rural Sindh,” Faraz added.

“The PPP instead of turning Larkana into Karachi has changed Karachi into Larkana. I ask them where they have spent Rs14 trillion during their ten-year rule in the province,” the minister added.

Talking about former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's repatriation, he rejected the claim that the PTI government is not serious in bringing back the convicted PML-N supreme leader from London.

“The former premier had left the country on the pretext of getting medical treatment. The government will use all means to repatriate him,” he added.

He said the opposition parties are getting united only for protecting plundered national wealth, “otherwise they have different agendas. We face no threat from them."

The minister said the Tuesday meeting between PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman ended in a fiasco and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Shehbaz had opposing views on many issues.

“Opposition is trying to instigate people against the PTI government but they will fail in their designs.”

Flour crisis

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is worried about high prices of edible items in the country and is personally monitoring the steps being taken to give relief to the poor. “The premier has been chairing high level meetings and issuing directives to bring prices of essential items down.”

He said hoarding is one of the main reasons for a rise in wheat flour prices and the government would take strong action against such elements.

“The government has taken concrete steps to counter hoarding and the import of wheat is one major initiative, so that the consumers could get the commodity at affordable rates.”

Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam also addressed the press conference and said shortage of wheat started in the country a few months ago.

 “There is a shortage of 1.5 million tonnes of wheat in the country and at least 63,000 tonnes of wheat has been imported and has reached Karachi port. Due to the imported wheat, the prices of the wheat will reduce,” Imam claimed.