Prime Minister approves Rs 1 billion Karachi uplift package: MQM

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has approved Rs 1 billion development package for Karachi on the recommendations of the National Assembly members Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Around 200 development schemes are being initiated under this development package to resolve the civic problems of the metropolis. MQM's Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Dr Farooq Sattar stated this at a press conference at the MQM Headquarters here on Thursday. Farooq Sattar said that the federal government has released half of the amount of this package, whereas the remaining amount would be released after June, this year.
The sector-wise break up shows that Rs 535 million would be spent on road repairs, Rs 250 million on sewerage, Rs 146 million on water supply projects, Rs 53 million on repair of schools, colleges, libraries and hospitals and Rs 14 million would be spent on repair and replacement of electricity cables, poles and PMTs, he added.
He said that the prime minister has approved Rs 50 million for every MNA of the MQM, including one MNA from Hyderabad, Rs 140 million for federal minister Safwanullah and Rs 130 million for federal minister Shamim Siddiqui as a special grant.
All arrangements to launch these projects have been completed and the work would be started in June, he added.
He alleged that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) sabotaged the policy of adopting parks by multinational banks and Mohalla committees and spent Rs 1 billion on the renovation of parks. This amount could be spent on provision of basic civic facilities to the citizens of the city, he added.
He alleged that more than 95 percent development work done by the CDGK was launched illegally. According to Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) the City Council's approval is a must for development expenditures, but the CDGK did not take approval of the City Council for several development projects. He urged President Pervez Musharraf to initiate inquiry into the matter.
The CDGK launched several projects only for self-projection rather than to facilitate the citizens of the city, he said, adding that the CDGK has failed to provide civic facilities, including water, sewerage system, repair of roads and others to the Karachiites.
Most of the councillors have been disappointed by the CDGK and more than 1,000 councillors out of 3,500 have announced to join MQM, while more than 2,000 councillors are not daring to face the public in the next local bodies elections, he claimed.
Farooq Sattar said that the approved amount for development package fund would not be lapsed even after the end of this fiscal year and all these schemes would be completed by December 2005.