Mustafa Kamal seeks autonomy for Karachi

Packages and monetary aid will not prove effective unless reforms are made for the financial and administrative autonomy of Karachi, said Pak Sarzameen Party Chairperson Mustafa Kamal on Monday.

Levelling accusations at the Sindh government and its administrative failures, Kamal said that the city lacked basic amenities. "Talks and committees won't change the ground reality," he added.

Addressing office-bearers of the Sindh division, the PSP chief complained that the 18th Amendment had empowered chief ministers instead of districts, cities, towns and union councils. He also asked for the number of seats in the national and provincial assemblies to be increased for Karachi, in line with its population after an accurate census.

If Karachi was not given its due monetary share, its issues would become more complex, said Kamal.

Besides, he asked for the Centre to launch a Provincial Finance Commission award based on the style and formula of the National Finance Commission award so that powers and resources could be devolved to the local level.

According to Kamal, the city has been divided into seven parts on ethnic grounds. He demanded that Karachi be reorganised as one district and its 18 towns be given under an elected mayor.

He decried the Sindh government's announcement of spending Rs800 billion on development schemes, which he said were hidden from the eyes of the world.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th, 2020.