Sindh

No water, but Sindh government promises free WiFi for thirsty Karachi

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon announces that street lights in the province will be upgraded with LEDs

Hafeez Tunio June 04, 2015

The free wifi will be integrated in updated street lights.. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Karachi may currently be thirsting for water, but the Sindh government hopes that the provision of free WiFi would help.

Sindh Minister for Information and Local Government Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday announced that the street lights in Karachi will be updated with LEDs and free WiFi connectivity for the public.

Memon inaugurated a sports complex in Landhi on Thursday which had been lying incomplete for a number of years. The minister said the PPP government had spent Rs120 million completing it to provide the public indoor and outdoor sports facilities. He advised the youth to indulge in healthy sporting activities.

Read: Tech-savvy Punjab: CM approves free public Wi-Fi across province

The minister added that the government plans to undertake more mega projects in the city, announcing a street lights upgradation programme in the megalopolis which will replace bulbs with modern LED systems and CCTV cameras. He added that this LED system will also allow a free internet and WiFi system for the public.

The move follows a similar announcement by the Punjab government earlier this year.

He said government had decided to handover 10 KMC schools and six hospitals and dispensaries to businessmen to run and provide better facilities to the people.

The Administrator KMC Saqib Soomro, MPA Syed Khalid Ahmed and district ZMC Administrator Ms Quratulain also present on the occasion.

COMMENTS (21)

Bairooni Haath | 8 years ago | Reply Marie Antoinette would have been proud "Let them drink WiFi".

Jehanzeb Mahar | 8 years ago | Reply Lol. Nobody dares surfing internet on his mobile phone while walking outside in Karachi

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Aatika | 8 years ago | Reply Kindly provide us the facilities of water,electricity and peace.These are major problems and impotant issues in our city Karachi.

Fahad | 8 years ago | Reply PPP government, and specifically the multi talented, Sharjeel Sahab! Do u even know the difference between needs, wants and demands? First, basic necessities of general public should be fulfilled. Only then these things looks good (e.g: free wifi or i would say siyasat chamkana). As evident from past few days Sindh government has miserably failed in providing waters to public, so kindly keep these bumper offers to yourself but if this is another door to corruption then what we can say? Thank you so much for everything! Water deprived public

Sameer | 8 years ago | Reply Now tell us how can we drink WiFi ? How can we wash things from wifi? And don't forget most of the people don't use smart phones specially on the streets!! be logical PPP government! Give them what they desperately need first 'WATER'

Rumormonger | 8 years ago | Reply No bread? Eat cake........ Guillotine awaits.

Faizan Maqbool | 8 years ago | Reply @Arsalan: Yes, just like the term: infructuous, meaning not fruitful, and tended to be used by Indians and Pakistanis in the legal profession.

Ammar | 8 years ago | Reply Some things can never change so does our far right leaning media, and our fake intelligentsia. http://tribune.com.pk/story/896760/first-meeting-bilawal-wants-to-expedite-resolution-of-karachis-water-crises/

Faizan Maqbool | 8 years ago | Reply @Rafay Siddiqui: Stop being so archaic; popular usage has established it as a bona fide word.

Israr | 8 years ago | Reply @a PAKI: No, because they have struck a deal with Daily Motion.

iQuench! | 8 years ago | Reply I guess if Sindh Govt put Sabeel of free water bottles for citizens to wash-n-bath, will be more befitting under the circumstances, than WIFI HotSpots. I bet the signal would be weak and on-n-off style too. So save you wiring & hiring for WIFI please!

Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply In England, when people asked for bread then Queen told them to eat cake. So to quench thirst, PPP advise to people of Karachi is stop complaining and use internet. Love live PPP imported chairman! I am glad he didn't ask thirsty people to drink something that he is used to.

kamal | 8 years ago | Reply Karachi's utilities and security problems insurmountable. That is coupled with inefficient and incapable Ministers. So please don't blame them for such useless irrelevant initiatives to convey that they still do 'something'. Laughable but sad as well.

Israr | 8 years ago | Reply In Lahore, there are streetlight poles every 30-40 feet on the roads. The number of these poles is absolutely staggering. However, I haven't seen one of them being lit for over a year. It is completely dark at night wherever you go in Lahore. It tells you exactly how the government operates; complete a visible mega project and move on to the next one. Maintenance of existing facilities is never a priority. I would like to be corrected if I am wrong on Lahore streetlights.

RASHID | 8 years ago | Reply Any thing new will definitely involve kick backs and loads of corruption money to Sindh government , while who cares whether these projects complete or not.As far as the water crisis is concerned that is a real issue and Sindh Government has absolutely no concern with it because as per their interpretation, there is a water crisis when their is no water for CM house.

Arsalan | 8 years ago | Reply @Rafay Siddiqui: 'Upgradation' is a word that is mainly introduced by Indian/Pakistani English speakers. Its definition is there in Cambridge Dictionary, Collins Dictionary and many others. Oxford dictionary may also add it in near future. So, it's not so improper if someone use this word.

Taimoor | 8 years ago | Reply Sometimes I can't believe this reporting. It almost seems like these guys are paid off. On one end metro busses are being celebrated on the other they see wifi as being a luxury. Whats the difference, is punjab a first world country or something.

FZ | 8 years ago | Reply Karachiites would like to have peace and basic necessities, dear govt. Keep your free wi-fi to yourself!

a PAKI | 8 years ago | Reply Shouldn't they try to get the youtube unblocked first ?

Rafay Siddiqui | 8 years ago | Reply 'Upgradation' is no word. The word is 'upgrade'. Please fix it, it's used commonly these days.

Faizan | 8 years ago | Reply People can download recipe of creating roti kapra and makaan, also they can watch free water via wifi "Anti Virus" of Naeglaeria Fowleri can also be downloaded from Free wifi PPP has Solution for every problem Thanks to Bhutto Jiye Bhutto

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