Centre-Sindh tussle: Who ‘owns’ Karachi?

Provincial govt hinders development in city, says federal minister

KARACHI:

Sunday saw yet another power tussle to rule the financial hub of the country with both the federal and provincial governments' representatives pointing fingers at each other for the dire state of developmental works in the metropolis.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar lambasted the Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government on Sunday accusing it of hindering the completion of developmental works in the provincial capital.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who leads the government in the Centre, considers Karachi its own and will continue to work for it, said Umar. The provincial leadership does not, he added.

Flanked by PTI members of provincial assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Adeel Ahmed, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan lawmaker Jamal Ahmed, the federal minister was speaking at the inauguration of PTI's regional office in Shah Faisal Colony.

"We will continue to work here," vowed Umar, alleging that when the federal government attempts to work in Sindh, it is met by obstacles. Censuring the provincial government further, the federal minister said that the local government system in Sindh is not in line with the spirit of the Constitution of Pakistan.

Local governments should have all the powers but that's not the case in Karachi, said Umar, adding that provinces [usually] seek help from the federation.

Chiding the provincial leadership, he said that the chief minister and provincial ministers make promises but do not transfer powers. The ruling PTI, and MQM-P, its coalition partner in the Centre, have also approached the Supreme Court regarding local government powers, said the federal minister. Local body elections in Sindh should be held under a new local government system, he added.

Similarly, the former opposition leader in Sindh Assembly, Naqvi, noted that five months have passed since the tenure of the elected local government representatives ended but the provincial leadership has yet to announce a date for the transfer of powers. The lawmaker regretted that there is scarcity of potable water in the metropolis and that the urban centre lacks a sustainable mass transit system.

"The Zardari League is responsible for Karachi being deprived of basic facilities," claimed Naqvi, adding that the port city's troubles had intensified so much in the past four decades that they have outgrown the province's problems. Karachi has no master plan, he remarked. "We demand the best local government system in the province. Sindh and the federation must work together to change Karachi."

'They announce projects and take U-turns'

Later, reacting to Umar's accusation that the Sindh government hinders development works by the Centre, the provincial government spokesperson, Murtaza Wahab, said that the PTI government has never been interested in working for Karachi to begin with.

"Blaming the Sindh government is an excuse for the selected government for not carrying out development works. The PTI government accuses the provincial government to hide its own incompetence."

Only announcing packages and blaming the provincial government will not work, said Wahab, who is also the adviser to Sindh CM on law and coastal development.

Passing the buck to the Centre, Wahab remarked that the federal government only announces projects and then takes U-turns.

The PPP stalwart claimed that the metropolis is the city of the PPP and no matter who is 'selected' it is only the PPP who carries out development works in the city.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2021.