Local govt minister urges action against illegal constructions

Calls SBCA performance unsatisfactory, wants media to highlight issue

KARACHI:

Local Government Minister, Saeed Ghani, a local of Chanesar Goth, his own constituency, where people have blocked lanes to extend their houses, has said that the media should help the provincial government to prevent further construction of illegal buildings in Karachi.

He was speaking at a ceremony held at the KMC Sports Complex the previous night to confer a lifetime achievement award on the senior journalist, Shehzad Chughtai. The ceremony was held by the Local Bodies Reporters' Association (LBRA).

Saeed Ghani said that he was not satisfied with the performance of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) as thousands of illegal buildings had been built in the city in the past. "The media should least help us in preventing new illegal constructions in the city," he said.

Ghani said that he was cognisant of the issue that the affairs of all the municipal agencies were not satisfactory as they could not serve the public in the desired manner.

He said the relevant provincial authorities would surely take cognisance of the factual news reports of the journalists. The Local Government Minister said that he had deepening and warm friendly relations with the journalists. He told media persons that he had a difference of opinion with a few media persons but he always remained on talking terms with them. Ghani said the news reports shouldn't be based on hearsay to maintain the credibility of the media.

Ghani paid tribute to the senior journalist Shehzad Chughtai while saying that he was like an institution in journalism and that the newcomers in the media industry should learn a lot from him.

He said the LBRA was the representative body of the media persons covering the municipal agencies as he was ready to act as its patron.

Speaking on the occasion, former Karachi Press Club President, Imtiaz Khan Faran, said the media should also highlight shortcomings on the part of cantonment boards and DHA in Karachi in serving their residents.

Earlier, LBRA General Secretary, Imran Ali Shah, urged the Local Government Minister to act as a patron of their association.