Govt to act immediately to resolve three major issues of Karachi: PM

Says the whole nation feels the pain people in Karachi are going through

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are all set to work together to resolve three major issues of the metropolitan city Karachi.

Days after the federal and Sindh governments decided to set aside their differences for the betterment of Karachi, the premier said that the PTI and PPP governments have decided to immediately start working together for cleaning of nullahs, devising a permanent solution to the solid waste disposal and sewerage problems and ensuring water supply to the city.

Expressing sympathy with the people of Karachi who have been devastated by the torrential rains in the past few days, the prime minister assured the residents of Pakistan’s commercial hub that the federal and provincial governments were ready to permanently solve Karachi’s problems.

Taking to Twitter, the prime minister said that “The whole nation feels the pain our people in Karachi are going through. However, out of this devastation and suffering there is now a positive development as my government, along with the Sindh government, is moving to immediately act and resolve three major problems of Karachi”.

https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1299600968309448705

In the next tweet, PM Imran stated: “Cleaning the nullahs once and for all and dealing with encroachments impeding water channels; devising a permanent solution to the solid waste disposal and sewerage problems; and resolving the critical issue of water supply to the citizens of Karachi.”

The announcement has come on the heels of premier’s statement on August 28 wherein he said that the federal government was completely aware of the development needs of Sindh's people, especially of Karachi's, and assured that the Centre will play its due role in this regard.

While presiding over a meeting held to review the progress of various uplift projects in Karachi on Friday, Imran told the participants that relevant authorities were asked to carry out relief operations in the city.

During the meeting, the premier revealed that he spoke to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah regarding the situation in Karachi after heavy rains, and assured the provincial government of complete support from the federal government. He underscored that Karachi was an important part of Pakistan and all its issues would soon be resolved.

On August 16, the federal and Sindh governments formed a committee comprising representatives from the city’s three main stakeholders— PPP, PTI and MQM—to address the city’s issues.

The development came after Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Education Minister Saeed Ghani and Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah met with Governor Imran Ismail, Federal Minister Asad Umar and Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar in Islamabad.

According to the provincial information minister, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal also present at the meeting. It was decided that the three parties would work together to address the civic problems of the metropolis.

Currently, Karachi and other parts of Sindh and Balochistan are reeling from three days of torrential rains that brought life to a virtual halt in many areas. The flooding of Pakistan’s largest city has serious implications for the economy too.

PM’s Adviser for Commerce and Investment Razak Dawood tweeted on Wednesday that because of heavy rains in Karachi, Pakistan’s exports for the month of August could be affected. “It appears that because of the heavy rains, particularly in Karachi, our exports consignments are being delayed and hence our exports for the month of August may be affected.”