Prime Minister Imran Khan promises master plan for Karachi

KARACHI: Prime minister Imran Khan has made some bold announcements in Karachi, including giving nationality to immigrants from Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister says children of Afghan and Bengali refugees and migrant workers in Pakistan will get Pakistani passports.

He said that Karachi's underclass has moved towards criminal acts when they don't have access to education and jobs. "This zulm needs to end".

"A deprived class is turning to crime, we will address this immediately," he added.

Imran Khan has promised a master plan for Karachi, more trees and waste recycling plant.

"We need to uplift the poor and underprivileged. We have the Chinese model to emulate that moved 70 million people from the poverty line," he said.

He said that the crime in the metropolis is a result of lack of justice.

PM Khan said that waste disposal is a huge issue for the city, adding that he is giving the Sindh government two more months to address the issue otherwise the federal government will take charge.

He appreciated that the target killing numbers are down in the city but the street crime is increasing in the city due to joblessness.

"A deprived class is turning to crime, we will address this immediately," he added.

PM Khan promised the people present in the event to reforest Karachi. He said that the city is currently a concrete jungle and called it 'a heat trap'. "We will work to formulate and incorporate "Green Karachi".

The premier said that Governor Houses has exorbitant costs for the people of Pakistan.

"In a country where 43% of our children have stunted growth & millions out of school, how can we afford this ostentatious lifestyle?" he said.

The premier said that the federal government will address supply of water and transport in Karachi on an immediate basis and the construction of a Northern bypass to address traffic issues.

Timely completion of federal projects

The prime minister extensively reviewed the series of federal government funded projects for Karachi and directed their completion within stipulated time.

The meeting held here at the State Guest House was also attended by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Minister for Local Bodies Saeed Ghani, Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhter, Chief Secretary Azam Sulaiman Khan, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Swaleh Farooqui and other officials concerned belonging to the provincial government.

Reviewing the phase one of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply scheme, commonly known as K-IV project, the prime minister took exception to reported delay in its completion,

According to Karachi Water and Sewage Board (KW&SB) officials, the first phase of the three phased project was initially scheduled to be completed by mid 2019, however, owing to reasons it may not be completed by the target date.

The project mutually financed by the federal and provincial governments to improve water availability in the ever growing metropolis involves a 99-kilometer open canal from Keenjhar Lake in Thatta to the Northern Bypass in District West of Karachi.

Prime Minister Imran Khan was also briefed about the Green Line project, which was launched to cater to the much needed public transport needs in the metropolis.

Matters related to the Karachi Circular Railway, possible restructuring of the Green Line project, police reforms, provision for low cost housing schemes and those related to environment were also discussed on the occasion.

Law and order

The PM Sunday said the law and order was the high priority agenda for the government because without peace and stability, economic potential of the country could not be harnessed.

Karachi, he said, was the financial capital of Pakistan and the federal government would continue to offer full support to the provincial government for maintaining the law and order in the city.

The prime minister was chairing a meeting on law and order in the metropolis.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Commander 5 Corp Lt Gen Hamayun Aziz, Sindh Chief Secretary Maj (R) Azam Sulaiman Khan, Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Sualeh Farooqi, Director General Rangers Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh Dr Syed Kaleem Imam, Secretary Home Abdul Qadir Qazi and senior officers.

The meeting reviewed overall law and order situation in the province with special focus on peace and security in Karachi.

The IGP Sindh briefed the meeting regarding law and order situation and the Director General Rangers updated about the threat assessment and role of Rangers in the Karachi operation.

It was informed that overall 90% reduction had been occurred in the rate of heinous crimes since start of the Karachi operation.

The prime minister observed that overall situation in Karachi had improved significantly due to the devotion and sacrifices of the law enforcement agencies.