JI promises rectification of census results, resolution of gas crisis in its manifesto for Karachi

Karachi Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Sunday announced his party’s election manifesto for Karachi that included rectification of census results, women empowerment programme and resolution of health, transport and water supply issues of the city.

The JI leader unveiled the manifesto, titled ‘Manshoor-e-Karachi’, at a press conference held at the party’s city headquarters, Idara Noor-e-Haq. He was flanked by JI candidates for the national and provincial assembly constituencies in Karachi.

Rehman said the JI had fielded the best candidates, including doctors, engineers, and lawyers, in the coming general elections. He stated that the basic premise of the manifesto was that the progress and development of Karachi would ensure the progress and development of Pakistan.

He mentioned that the youth in Karachi had been facing an acute shortage of job opportunities. To empower the youth of the city, the JI would offer information technology-based skill development courses, he said, adding that the party had also planned to arrange entrepreneurship and public sector job opportunities for the youth of Karachi.

Rehman vowed that sports complexes would be established to provide opportunity of healthy activities to the youth, which would safeguard them against the prevailing negative atmosphere in society.

He pledged to upgrade all public sector schools to model schools, and promised that if the JI came into power as a result of the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, it would ensure rectification of the census results of Karachi.

Regarding the health sector, the Karachi JI chief said health cards were the right of Karachiites, and the party would issue health cards not only to the residents of Karachi but also to the people of other parts of Sindh.

The JI wanted to establish women and children health centres in all towns across the city, he added. Commenting on the gas crisis in the city, he said the JI would resolve the matter, ensuring a smooth supply of gas to domestic consumers in Karachi as per the constitution. He pledged to eliminate corruption, mismanagement and kickbacks in gas imports and vowed to lower the gas tariff.

He expressed the JI’s commitment to making Karachi a safe city in letter and spirit, saying that the police force would be upgraded with their salaries increased, and fresh recruitment in the Karachi police would be made purely on merit without taking into consideration caste, creed and colour.

He said the JI government would restore the Karachi Circular Railway, and the Bus Rapid Transit would be converted into a light train project.

Rehman also spoke about the women empowerment programme in the Karachi manifesto of the party. He said the JI would ensure dedicated transport for women and entrepreneurship opportunities for housewives, and form neighbourhood committees for the resolution of women's issues.

He said the JI would ensure the right to inheritance for women. Discussing environmental issues, he said green areas would be established in Karachi with the help of students.