KARACHI: KARACHI Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, on Tuesday, said that Rs 30 billion will be spent this year on the development of the megacity, including making strong and sustained arrangements for the smooth supply of clean drinking water to each household.
The tenders for the Saba and Ajmer Nagri pumping stations have been completed, while work continues on the project that will bring an additional 70 to 80 million gallons per day of water to the city, he said during the inauguration of various projects.
He said that for addressing the water shortage issue in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, the KLSR pumping station is being made operational. The pumping stations in Malir and Gadap have been shifted to solar energy, benefiting 56 settlements. He said Khamiso Goth Road will be inaugurated in a few days. New graveyards are being planned for the city; work will begin as soon as land is allocated, and a summary has already been sent to the cabinet for approval. If any graveyard administration charges extra fees, citizens should file complaints at the KMC helpline, he said.
Regarding the theft of manhole covers, he said that help from the police will be sought. City wardens are installing manhole covers daily, and 208 new covers have been installed in the Jamaat-e-Islami–controlled UC areas.
Mayor asserted, “I will not resign at anyone’s demand. This is my city; I will stay right here. Those who didn’t become mayor have gone off to Lahore. They do not have the intention to work. Holding press conferences is easy; delivering results is difficult.”
He said the condition of the Manghopir road was extremely poor, and it connects three union committees. In line with the PPP manifesto, work worth Rs. 100 million was initiated, under which 110,000 square feet of road was paved and completed.
Mayor i said that in 2020 Yousuf Goth was severely affected by rains, but PPP carried out complete rehabilitation work there, that is why, Yousuf Goth remained safe during the recent rains.
He said that previously UC chairpersons received Rs 500,000, which was increased to Rs 1.2 million, and later increased again to Rs 1.3 million. Despite this, some elements are still engaging in hypocrisy by calling this amount insufficient.
The Mayor remarked that earlier there was “China-cutting,” and now these people are doing road-cutting. “We build the roads, and the Jamaat-e-Islami town chairmen give permission for road-cutting. Rs 14 billion were collected in the name of road-cutting. This cannot continue— we will not allow anyone to cut the roads we build and then blame the Mayor.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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