Monsoon rains: Bilawal optimistic about Centre's approach to Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday expressed hope that the federal government will provide relief to the people badly affected by recent spell of monsoon rains in Karachi.

Addressing a press conference, the PPP chairman said that for the first time in two years, the incumbent government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed its will to invest money for the development of Sindh province.

The PPP chairman appreciated the federal government for showing seriousness as regards to investing in Karachi for its infrastructure and development.

Bilawal Bhutto further said that all the crops and businesses in the province have been destroyed due to the devastated situation caused after the monsoon downpour. "All the crops and businesses in the province have been destroyed due to the devastated situation caused by the monsoon downpour," he remarked.

The PPP chairman said that this year's monsoon spells have highlighted two issues facing the provincial capital. He said even Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that no one can face such calamity.

Bilawal said that funds from the federal government were the right of the people of Sindh. "Those who taunt us by saying that we will not give Sindh its due share of funds they should know that these are funds that belong to the people of Sindh.

Bilawal said that the Sindh chief minister and his entire team were "working endlessly to provide relief to the people of the province".

The PPP chairman also shared that the Sindh CM not only visited various districts of Karachi but also ensured his presence during these calamitous times. He added that that CM Murad has also visited those places where he did not have any authority and extended his "help out of humanity and on moral grounds".

"The federation should not only provide relief but also provide compensation for the damages," he said and added that the Sindh government was looking forward to the federal government in helping it reinstate poor people's houses which were swept away during the rains.

Bilawal also thanked Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif for his visit to Karachi.

The PPP chairman also said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has provided Sindh with some financial support but emphasised that the province's requirement was "way more than the allocated amount".

"We are looking forward to our disaster management authority for more funds to reinstate the city," said Bilawal. Bilawal also noted that in the past not much attention was given to the infrastructural issues of the city. He added that the Sindh CM had put forward a Rs800 billion plan for Karachi.

"If the amount we demand is allocated, we are sure that the most issues of the city can be resolved. We need massive support from the federation to pull the city out of these catastrophic situation," said Bilawal.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said appointments of administrator in Karachi and other cities of the province is constitutional right of CM Sindh and he will appoint impartial administrators.

The PPP chairman expressed happiness at the Rahbar Committee's decision to allow the PPP to host the All Parties Conference (APC), adding that the platform will be a good one to discuss all issues of the country and to ensure all opposition parties are on the same page.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020