ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday said that federal government along with the provincial government of Sindh was moving to immediately act and resolve three major problems of Karachi, cleaning the nullahs, dealing with the encroachments impeding water channels, and sewerage issues.
As torrential rains wreak havoc in the coastal city, the prime minister took to Twitter, and said: “Cleaning the nullahs once & for all & dealing with encroachments impeding water channels; devising a permanent solution to the solid waste disposal & sewerage problems & resolving the critical issue of water supply to the citizens of Karachi.”
“The whole nation feels the pain our people in Karachi are going through. However, out of this devastation and suffering there is now a positive development as my government, along with the Sindh government, is moving to immediately act and resolve three major problems of Karachi," tweeted Khan.
The overall death toll from the most recent three-day spell of rain in the metropolis rose to 40 on Friday, after 10 more people died from rain-related incidents, police and officials said.
The citizens have taken to Twitter to curse the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government for ruining the city by not paying any heed to fixing the several decades’ old sewerage system.
According to an update from the Sindh Chief Minister’s House, several areas in the city were still submerged in water after torrential rains began Thursday.
"Rainwater has accumulated in some areas in Tower, while several areas in Bath Island, Gulshan-i-Faisal and Clifton in the city's south district are also submerged," Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah informed the meeting, directing that those areas be cleared.
He questioned why the accumulated rainwater had not yet been removed from the south district, pointing out that the Urban Disaster Response Unit of the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) was not seen in action during the rains.
"Identify all the points, which can stop the flow of rainwater," Shah instructed, adding that any buildings — whether government or private — that were stopping the outflow of rainwater should be bulldozed.
The chief minister claimed the government employees were working to clear areas of rainwater but people could not identify them because they "wore civilian clothes".
"I want to fix the city, even if I have to take the strictest measures," he said.
Shah also directed a senior member of the Sindh Revenue Board to conduct a survey of Karachi and other districts of Sindh to assess the damage.
He further directed all the deputy commissioners to take care of the nullahs in their districts, and ensure that they did not choke.
"The nullahs are cleared of rainwater but are choked by rubbish and plastic shoppers. All these nullahs should be cleaned."
He said he was aware that there was a shortage of staff, adding that the government should hire "temporary staff to deal with the [rain-related] work on an emergency basis".
The chief minister was informed that power remained suspended in many areas of the city.
Service at 170 out of K Electric's 1,900 feeders is yet to be restored, according to the statement.
Meanwhile, K Electric in a tweet said that 91 percent of its feeders had been powered up.
A day earlier, during a National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting, the prime minister told the chief minister that he would visit Karachi next week.
"I will sit with you to draw up a complete plan to help Sindh government," the prime minister was quoted as saying by a statement released by Sindh CM House.
The Sindh chief minister thanked the prime minister for calling him and offering assistance.
Shah said that Karachi had faced a "disaster", adding rains had affected almost the entire province.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
Comments
Comments are closed.