MQM-P decries post-rain situation in Hyderabad as CM told 90pc rainwater cleared

HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon and Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro on Thursday reviewed the post-rain situation in Hyderabad.

Talking to the media, they said the city had experienced two monsoon spells within days with a heavy rain on July 14 bringing 107 millimetres of rain in hours. The CM said the low lying areas depended entirely on pumping stations to drain water, which became challenging when electricity outages occurred during storms.

He said he had already instructed the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) to ensure uninterrupted power during rainfall. He added that the Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWSC) had the capacity to drain 30 millimetres of rainwater and the government was planning to upgrade this.

Shoro and Hyderabad Commissioner Bilal Memon reported that while 90 per cent of the accumulated water had been cleared within 10 hours, some pockets still remained inundated. In some areas, municipal teams even removed sacks and debris from sewerage lines to restore water flow.

The CM inspected Civil Lines, Thandi Sarak, Auto Bhan Road, railway underpasses, and several low lying neighbourhoods including Fatah Chowk, Makki Shah Road and Qazi Qayoom Road. He expressed sorrow over a rain related fatality and directed officials to prioritise safety and speed up rehabilitation.

On urban development, the CM highlighted ongoing projects such as Auto Bhan Road phases I and II, set for completion this month, and phase III expected to be completed by February.

He explained that work was also under way on Abdul Sattar Edhi Flyover, new roads along with both banks of the Pinyari Canal, and a planned ring road linking the three flyovers. The rehabilitation of Hala Naka Road and Niaz Stadium was also under way, with several completed schemes scheduled for inauguration in August.

He confirmed that encroachments along Auto Bhan Road were being removed and vowed that any unauthorised societies or structures along the Indus River would also face action. He said the HWSC must become financially sustainable as it was not viable for the provincial government to keep covering its payroll every three months.

The CM said discussions with Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi were under way to host the Pakistan Super League matches in Hyderabad next year. He added that the city was also preparing for hosting the Wheelchair Cricket Asian Championship games and welcoming six international teams at the Niaz Stadium in September 2025. He said Hyderabad was Sindh’s second largest city and remained a top priority in the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) development agenda.

MQM-P reaction

Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM P) expressed resentment over not being invited during Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah’s visit to Hyderabad. Addressing a press conference at the Hyderabad Press Club, MQM P lawmakers said the CM was only shown selected areas, while critical issues were deliberately hidden from him.

The CM was not taken to the filthy storm water drains where children had drowned, said MNA Waseem Hussain, accusing local authorities of staging a false picture of the city. They showed him the good side and sent him back, he added.

Hyderabad looks cleaner today because of the pumping stations built by our former mayor late Kanwar Naveed Jameel, Hussain said. He asked that the PPP’s mayor had achieved for the city. “How many pumping stations has he built or upgraded?”

He alleged rampant corruption in the current administration, saying the more someone was involved in corruption, the greater the promotion they got. Even funds meant for flood rehabilitation were subjected to commissions, he alleged.