CM promises to increase funds for union committees

The Sindh government has decided to increase the funds for union committees of Karachi so that they could serve the people in the best possible manner.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated this on Friday while speaking at a session with Karachi-based representatives and workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the provincial budget 2024-25.

The meeting was held at the banquet hall of CM House and attended by Sindh PPP President Nisar Khuhro, General Secretary Waqar Mehdi, provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani and Sardar Ali Shah, Adviser Najmi Alam, Karachi mayor and deputy mayor, MNAs Qadir Patel, Hakim Baloch, Nabeel Gabol and Dr Ikhtiar Baiq, senators, MPAs, district presidents and general secretaries and others.

The CM said it was a demand of UC representatives from Karachi that their funds be increased. “I will give you [UC chairmen] more funds and will make you accountable for their judicious spending,” Murad said.

He remarked that in the general elections of 2018, the PPP won three National Assembly seats from Karachi and in the last general elections, the party bagged seven National Assembly and 12 Sindh Assembly seats from the city, which was a manifestation of the party workers’ hard work.

The CM said that on the recommendation of party workers, his government would provide the people of Karachi with water supply, sanitation and transport facilities, particularly in the underdeveloped areas.

He said that a scheme of a sewerage treatment plant would be initiated for Rs135 billion under the public-private partnership mode so that treated wastewater could be used for industrial use.

Sadia Majeed, the women wing president of the District Malir PPP pointed out that the wastewater of the city and industrial waste was being released untreated into the sea badly damaging mangroves and marine life.

To this, the CM assured her that the provincial government was trying to install a treatment plant so that wastewater could be treated and used for agriculture. She also pointed out that drugs were being openly consumed by children in Rehri, Lath Basti and other nearby villages. To this, the CM directed the Karachi commissioner to take strict action against the drug mafia in these areas.

He added that his government had already initiated targeted operation against the drug mafia in the city. Sadia demanded that the CM establish a separate arts council and digital library in Malir so that healthy activities could be promoted in the district. The CM appreciated her for making public-oriented demands and assured that her genuine demands would be met.

Shahida Rehmani, Imran Bapra and Moosa Mengal from District Keamari raised the issues of water shortage and absence of health facilities on the islands of Baba and Bhit and requested the CM to provide their residents with these facilities.

It was said that patients from Baba and Bhit islands were transported to the city through boats and when the patients reached the Keamari road, it was found jammed with vehicles. Shahida also pointed out transport issues and the shortage of girl colleges. She urged the CM to get Manghopir Road constructed.

District Keamari PPP President Liaquat Askani complained that Keamari and West districts had been ignored in the routes of the Peoples Bus Service in Karachi. The CM said his government had constructed Mauripur and KANUUP roads and vowed to resolve the issues of transport and water shortage in District Keamari.

A UC chairman from District West said the UCs’ monthly budget was Rs500,000 that was not sufficient. He added that of 35 goths in the area, 30 had no water or electricity. Faraz Khwaja from District South pointed out water shortage in Lyari and said the bulk water supply line had either been choked or damaged, which needed to be repaired. He urged the Sindh government to eliminate the drug mafia from Lyari.

The CM directed the narcotics control minister to start an operation against the drug mafia in Lyari. Haji Majeed pointed out that 80 per cent of the population of Lyari was paying electricity bills but still they had to face prolonged load-shedding.

Yasin Jumani pointed out that the construction of the Red Line project had been causing traffic jams on University Road. He demanded the completion of the project as soon as possible. Ilyas Gabol pointed out the issues of Sohrab Goth Town and Safoora Town that had large katchi abadis and underdeveloped settlements. He proposed that the government provide them with water, sanitation and health facilities. He also urged the government to regularise villages in District East. Asif Khan suggested that solar panels be given to the poor to save them from inflated electricity bills.