‘Mayor should focus on civic matters, not politics’

In response to the city mayor’s complaints about lack of funds and powers, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Sindh General Secretary Waqar Mehdi said Waseem Akhtar should focus on cleaning the 41 major nullahs of Karachi and other rain management measures instead of criticising the provincial government merely for the sake of political point-scoring.

Talking to The News on Tuesday, Mehdi said the mayor had all powers under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO), 2013. “All he has to do is to exercise his powers for the betterment of city.”

The PPP leader said the city government should have cleaned the major 41 nullahs in view of the intermittent showers. “But the city’s major nullahs are still overflowing due to blockages.” The city government should immediately clean the major nullahs, including Nahare Khayyam, Gujjar Nullah, Aziz Bhatti drain, Sungail Nullah, Orangi town drain, New Karachi drain, Bursary drain, Azam Basti drain, and Moach Goth drain, he said, adding that the Sindh government was providing enough funds to the city mayor.

Mehdi said the mayor should also make efforts to improve the conditions of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation-run hospitals, including the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases, and the Karachi Medical and Dental College.

“These hospitals are in deplorable conditions as medicines and X-ray machines are not available there while doctors do not show up on a regular basis,” he said. The PPP leader said his party’s victory in the PS-114 by-election had set the momentum for a major win in the next general elections in Karachi. Talking about the Panamagate JIT’s report, Mehdi said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should immediately step down.

Ismaili delegation meets mayor 

A delegation of the Ismaili Council for Pakistan, led by its president Amin Mohammad Lakhani, called on the city mayor in his office on Tuesday. The delegation invited Waseem Akhtar to join them in the commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Prince Karim Aga Khan.

Briefing the mayor about the occasion, Lakhani said Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam and spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, would be completing his 60 years as an Imam on July 11, 2017.

He succeeded his grandfather Sir Sultan Muhammad Aga Khan III on July 11, 1957, Lakhani added. He said the Ismailis, keeping with their historic tradition, would celebrate this occasion, the Diamond Jubilee of the Imam, until July next year during which social, cultural and development projects would be launched.

The mayor congratulated the delegation on the Diamond Jubilee of Prince Karim Aga Khan and said the Aga Khan Development Network performed excellently in Pakistan, especially in the sectors of education and health in Sindh.

“Over the last 60 years, Prince Karim Aga Khan worked relentlessly for sustainable progress of the Ismaili community, the wider Muslim community and the people amongst whom they live in,” he said.

“His efforts have improved the quality of life for millions and impacted all aspects of the human condition. The Aga Khan Development Network has been overseeing areas of development including education, health, culture and improved living conditions for people regardless of their religion, race, ethnicity or gender. It has also been working for the uplift of deprived communities,” he added.

The mayor said he was hoping that the Ismaili community would commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of its spiritual leader in a befitting manner and the community would launch new socio-economic and development projects at grass root level all over the world.