Mayor accuses governments of neglecting Karachi

Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar on Tuesday lashed out at the federal and Sindh governments for what he said 'consistently neglecting' Karachi despite the fact that the port city was contributing 70 per cent revenue to the national exchequer. Addressing the business community during his visit to the Karachi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), he said the PPP-led provincial government was enjoying all powers and resources but it was not interested in resolving the issues of the metropolis.
He said that though the local bodies' government was utilising its resources and making all-out efforts to help solve the civic problems, we will be able to deliver in much better manner provided "we are given administrative and financial powers. He deplored that Sindh Government has not taken measures to run the kidney hospital which a member of National Assembly, belonging to MQM, had built in the city some six years back and equipment for the same were imported from Germany.
He said that the city was given importance during the tenure of former president Pervez Musharaf and the sufficient funds allocated then were properly utilised in accomplishing different development schemes. "I want to serve Karachi sincerely as its citizens have elected me but hurdles are being created in my way," he regretted and said that a conspiracy was being made to include my name in Schedule-IV so that I may not be able to run the affairs of the city. He alleged that his party's (MQM) mandate was also being deliberately divided by creating new fractions. "We do not know who are behind such policies" the Mayor remarked, saying that under such circumstances, he had assumed the office of mayor as the biggest challenge as he own Karachi.
"The civic utility is running short of funds and resources to cope with the issues of the city which we inherited in the absence of local bodies system from 2008 to 2016." he said, adding that the problems being faced by the city include removal of thousands of tons of garbage, encroached upon pavements, overflowing gutters, ruined roads and shortage of drinking water, etc.
He urged the business community to raise voice 'peacefully' against the discrimination being meted out to the Karachi and its citizens. The mayor also requested the KCCI to help KMC in running its hospitals, schools and dispensaries in a better way. A leader of Karachi-based business community, Siraj Qasim Teli, asked mayor to assert his existing authority and resources, besides demanding rights from the federal and provincial governments. Deputy Mayor Karachi Dr Arshad Vohra, KCCI president Shameem Ahmad Firpo and representatives of small industry and others also spoke on the occasion.