Sindh enhances funds for UCs

CM says elected representatives to be held accountable to ensure judicious spending of funds

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that on the demand of union council representatives, he has decided to enhance UCs funds so that they serve people in their respective areas. "I'll give you [UCs] more funds and will make you accountable for their judicious spending."

Murad said that in the last election of 2018, PPP won three MNA seats and this time we have bagged seven MNAs and 12 MPA seats which is the manifestation of the party workers' hard work and ability to reach the message of Bilawal Bhutto to the people of Karachi.

The chief minister said that on the recommendation of party workers, his government would ensure provision of clean water to the people of Karachi, better sanitation, and affordable transport, particularly in the underdeveloped areas.

Murad directed the excise & taxation & narcotic control minister to eliminate drug mafia once for all. He said that a scheme of a sewage treatment plant would be initiated at a cost Rs135 billion in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode so that treated wastewater could be utilised for industrial usage.

He was speaking at an interactive session of PPP representatives and party workers for budget 2024-25 at the CM House on Friday.

The session was attended by Sindh PPP President Nisar Khuhro, General Secretary Waqar Mahdi, provincial ministers including Sharjeel Inam Memon, Nasir Shah, Saeed Ghani, Sardar Shah, Shaheen Sher Ali, Advisor Najmi Alam, mayor and deputy mayor Karachi, MNAs - Qadir Patel, Hakim Baloch, Nabeel Gabol, Dr Ikhtiar Baiq, Senators - Nadeem Bhutto, Masroor Ahsan, MPAs, district presidents and general secretaries, as well as the representatives of local bodies and party workers.

Sadia Majeed, President PPP Women wing Malir district pointed out that the wastewater of the city and industrial waste was being released untreated in the sea damaging mangroves and marine life. At this, the CM assured her that the provincial government was trying to install treatment plant so that wastewater could be used for agriculture.

The chief minister directed commissioner Karachi to take strict action against the drug mafia. He added that his government has already initiated targeted operations against drug mafia in the city.

Sadia demanded of the chief minister to establish an arts council and digital library in Malir so that healthy activities could be promoted in the district. The chief minister appreciated Sadia for making public-oriented demands.

Shahida Rehmani, UC President Imran Bapra, and Moosa Mengal district Keamari raised the issues of water shortage, absence of health facilities at islands of Baba & Bhit and requested the chief minister to provide them these facilities. He pointed out that patients from Baba & Bhit were transported to the city through boats and when the patients reached the Keamari Road, it remained jammed. They also pointed out that there was a shortage of teachers in the schools of Keamari district. The CM said that the Keamari district has been created recently and it would be provided with all the facilities the workers have pointed out in the meeting.

The CM directed local bodies of the area to develop playgrounds and develop parks. He said that he would finalize the Manghopir Road scheme shortly.

More Khan, a UC Chairman, said that the union councils were being given a Rs500,000 per month budget which was not sufficient. Out of 35 goths of the UC of Keamari, 30 have no water or electricity. Mumtaz Tanoli, chairman of UC requested for creation of job opportunities for the youngsters and the provision of water to the villages of the west district.

Most of the UC chairmen told the CM that they did not have offices for which the CM directed the minister local government to establish UC offices where needed.

Ashraf Sardar of the minority wing said that the district west minority localities that needed development work.

The session was informed that 80 per cent of the population of Lyari was paying electricity bills even then prolonged load shedding was being resorted there.

Shahbaz, a party worker, demanded the establishment of pre-schools in the public sector education system because most people could not afford private schools. He also pointed out the shortage of staff at Lyari University.

It was pointed out that the construction of the Red Line project has caused traffic jams along the University Road.

Published in The Express Tribune May 11^th, 2024.