Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Karachi for a two-day Sindh visit to dicuss various matters, including, government's response with provincial stakeholders.
He is accompanied by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, adviser on privitisation Mian Muhammad Soomro, special assistant Sania Nishtar, aide on information Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, and National Disaster Management Authority Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal.
According to a tweet from the Prime Minister Office, shortly after his arrival, the premier along with Zaidi met Governor Sindh Imran Ismail.
The two leaders discussed the ongoing development projects in Karachi, according to a tweet from the official Governor Sindh account.
The premier also met the PTI Sindh's core team where matters regarding the party were discussed.
According to a copy of the itinerary viewed by Geo.tv, the prime minister will attend a dinner with businessman and philanthropist Aqeel Karim Dhedhi to cap off the day's events.
On Wednesday, he is set to meet his coalition partners in the Centre, MQM-P's Kanwar Naveed, Aamir Khan, and Waseem Akhtar.
Furthermore, he will hold a meeting with his party members, where the chief secretary and inspector general of police will also be present.
PM Imran will also visit the Ehsaas Centre in Larkana — established to distribute funds to the needy and those affected by coronavirus.
Notably, the prime minister is not scheduled to meet with one of the most important stakeholders of the province, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah.
Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab told Geo News that PM Imran is in Karachi but there’s no meeting scheduled on coronavirus with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
“We will try meeting him to discuss the coronavirus situation with him,” Wahab said.
When asked why the chief minister wanted to meet the premier, Wahab said the provincial government need the support of the Centre in controlling the pandemic.
“If a bold decision is being taken we want the federal government to back provincial authorities so that we can achieve the desired results.”
“Coronavirus is the biggest issue in Pakistan today but his [PM Imran’s] priorities are different,” Wahab said, adding “it seems Sindh government is not acceptable to him.”
The federal government has allocated billions in the FY2020-21 budget for multiple projects in Karachi — including the Green Line Rapid Transit — documents showed.
The federal government has allocated Rs7.95 billion for the intelligent transport system — part of the Green Line Rapid transit line under construction in Karachi.
Meanwhile, a sum of Rs3 billion was allocated for the Green Line bus project and over Rs2.357 billion earmarked for the Greater Karachi water supply scheme.
The budget documents show that Rs650 million and Rs350 million were allocated, respectively, for the construction of the Mangophir-Banaras and Nishtar-Mangohpir roads.
In addition, a sum of Rs384 million was allocated for reinstating the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) firefighting system and Rs500 million for the construction on interchange on the Malir Link Road.
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