Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday said that for the first time in the history of Pakistan the concept of collective sacrifice of animals on Eidul Azha is being introduced.
Wahab said that instead of sacrificing animals on streets, people should slaughter animals at designated places. “It will help keep the city clean, as grounds will be allocated for sacrificial animals.”
He was holding a press conference after inaugurating the work for the restoration of various roads in Korangi’s UC-25 and UC-26. He said the work of making streets of concrete has started in the two union committees at a cost of Rs100 million, adding that 260,000 square feet would be completed in a year.
He also said District Korangi is the stronghold of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and its residents trust the party. Along with the central areas of the city, the suburbs will also be developed, as its road network will be converted in a model road network, he added.
Local leaders, elected representatives and other workers of the PPP’s District Korangi chapter were also present on the occasion. The mayor said the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is being run under the PPP, and it is working in 50 towns of the city with the help of the Sindh government. All the promises made by the party will be fulfilled under the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, he added.
Speaking about last year’s May 9 incident, Wahab said that it was the unluckiest and the most shameful day in the political, democratic and constitutional history of the country.
He said that on the basis of force, a group tried to highlight that there is no law in the country, adding that the pardon for the May 9 incident would be granted when the mistake is acknowledged.
He also said that on May 9 last year public and private properties were damaged, law enforcement agencies were targeted, footpaths were uprooted and buses of the people of the city were burnt.
“The Pakistani nation called this day shameful,” he said, adding that the Pakistani nation is a living nation that stands with its state and institutions, and with the law.
The mayor said the PPP government has constructed a flyover at Korangi No. 2½, and constructed 14000 Road and 9000 Road in the district. Chemical is being added to the wastewater of Korangi’s industries, he added.
He said that street lamps and other problems on various highways of Karachi would be resolved soon. He added that every PPP official and worker wants the development of the city, as “whatever resources we have will be spent honestly for the development of Karachi”.
He also said that it is due to the PPP’s vision that steps are being taken to provide additional water to the city, the results of which would be in front of everyone soon.
He added that there is a dispute over the issue of tax on sacrificial animals. “Some people don’t want the KMC to stand on its own feet,” he lamented, pointing out that the district council does not exist any more, and the town system is collecting this tax.
The mayor said he had appeared before the local government minister on this matter, and the town had also appeared. He said that 70 per cent of this tax should be given to the KMC, and the rest to the town in accordance with the law.
He pointed out that a commission has been formed under the supervision of the LG minister to end this dispute. He stressed that one town cannot collect this tax because sacrificial animal markets are established across the city.
“How can one town be allowed to set up a market? I am hopeful that this problem will be solved in accordance with the law.”