With new funds, district South plans to get some work done

Lawmakers of three constituencies suggest where to spend money

KARACHI: Some development work in NA-250 is likely to kick off soon after the district South administration received Rs20 million for each of its three constituencies.

The funds were given by the federal government to achieve the millennium development goals and targets, said city commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui. "Some of the development work was also done in 2014 and this year we are determined to do even more," he said.

District South Deputy Commissioner Saleem Rajput told The Express Tribune that a total of Rs20 million were given to each of the three constituencies in the district, which includes NA-248, NA-249, and NA-250. "The MNAs and MPAs of these constituencies are giving their input in the development work that is being conducted," he explained. He added that the three constituencies are represented by three different political parties, yet all these parties are serious in conducting the developmental work in their areas.

Speaking about the development work in his constituency NA-250, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Khurram Sher Zaman said that the district South deputy commissioner had asked him where the money should be utilised. "I proposed that around Rs4 million should be spent on fixing streetlights, around Rs10 million on solving the sewerage problem and Rs6 million on patching roads," said Zaman.



Fixing the service roads is the responsibility of the district South municipal corporation while the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is responsible for the maintenance of main roads and bridges, he said. However, he said, not a single penny was given by the Sindh government during his two-and-a-half-year tenure.

Up till now, 300 new streetlights were installed and around 350 were repaired, under the ongoing campaign of street lights in NA-250, said Zaman. "Most of the work up till now was done in less privileged areas, as the residents of those areas were facing many problems," he said, adding that the funds lie with the district administration and have not been given to the lawmakers.

Representing the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Dr Farooq Sattar said that he is in contact with the deputy commissioner regarding the development work in his constituency NA-249. "Most of the work that has to be done is related to municipal issues," said Sattar. Highlighting the main problems of the areas, Sattar pointed out that most of the street lights do not work and need maintenance. "Getting them fixed is my first priority," he said.

Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shahjahan Baloch, who won the seat from NA-248, said that the affected areas of his constituency are Chakiwara Road and Gulistan Colony. He added that these areas need road carpeting and lack clean drinking water. "Some of the work has been already started in my constituency," said Baloch. He told The Express Tribune that the Sindh government also granted a package for his constituency under the 'Lyari Package.'

Published in The Express Tribune, September 8^th,  2015.