‘PPP to emerge as largest party in Karachi’
Following the local bodies' elections, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah declared on Saturday that the PPP's next objective is to secure a sweeping victory in the upcoming general elections in Karachi.
Addressing a press conference to mark the conclusion of his five-year tenure, the CM confidently stated, "We will emerge as the largest party in Karachi during the next general elections." Accompanied by his cabinet members, including Saeed Ghani, Nasir Shah, Mukesh Chawla, and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, the chief minister presented a performance overview before the media.
Reaffirming his stance, he asserted, "We will not allow a repeat of the 2018 elections, which were marred by extensive rigging and manipulated results. Mayor Murtaza Wahab has been actively spearheading development projects initiated by the Sindh government, and now it's time to secure major seats in Karachi."
Having consecutively served two terms as chief minister in the PPP government, Shah spoke about the persisting challenges to law and order in Karachi. He acknowledged, "While we have successfully contained organised crime to a great extent, street crime remained a significant challenge for our administration."
Addressing the contentious issue of the recent census results, which indicated a decrease in the population of rural Sindh, the CM revealed that two National Assembly seats have been added to Sindh. He emphasised the need for a swift delimitation process, stating that "with just three months left until the general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should expedite the nationwide delimitation process within two months."
Discussing the upcoming caretaker setup in Sindh, the chief minister urged the media to refrain from speculative reporting. "I met with the leader of the opposition today, but we have not finalised any candidate. Another meeting is scheduled for tomorrow to deliberate further on this matter. Once consensus is reached, we will disclose the name of the caretaker chief minister," he added.
Transitioning to the topic of floods and rehabilitation efforts, the CM acknowledged the unprecedented devastation caused by the floods in 2022, resulting in loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods.
"Within an exceptional span of three months, the Sindh government collaborated with the development partners, including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, to devise projects worth approximately $2 billion for post-flood recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction," he added. Shah emphasised the launch of the Sindh Peoples Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) initiative, with a support from the World Bank, which aims at constructing 2.1 million multi-hazard resilient houses. "Our tireless efforts persist, with the objective of finalising all 2.1 million validations by the end of August," he said.
Moving to the health sector, the Sindh government augmented the budget to enhance health services across all three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary, he said. "The Sindh government achieved a vaccinated coverage of 102 per cent for the population aged 12 and above, with 38 million individuals vaccinated against COVID-19," he claimed.
Shah further highlighted the establishment of Outpatient Departments (OPDs) at healthcare centres throughout the province and the launch of 52 round-the-clock labour rooms to ensure uninterrupted maternity services.
About the education sector, the chief minister acknowledged the challenge of addressing the needs of around 3.5 million out-of-school children due to teacher shortages and closure of approximately 5,500 schools.
The situation was compounded by dilapidated school infrastructure and the damage caused by the 2022 floods, affecting over 50 per cent of schools. In response, the government appointed 60,000 teachers, upgraded 700 schools to secondary and higher secondary levels, constructed 5,300 schools (including shelter-less ones), rehabilitated 4,100 high schools, and reopened 3,075 schools. Notably, over 22,000 primary school teachers, previously in BPS 09, were upgraded to BPS 14. Additionally, teachers appointed on a contract basis from 2008 to 2019 have been regularised through third-party involvement.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2023.