New uplift schemes will be included in the latest budget under a new government after the coming general elections, said Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Friday.
“Karachi holds national economic importance so the federal and provincial governments must own the problems faced by the metropolis and prioritise the offering of solutions,” he added. He expressed these views while talking to media persons at the inauguration of a newly built pedestrian bridge at Shafiq Morr in Federal B Area. “This bridge has been constructed in merely 20 days to assist pedestrians in safely crossing the road,” he said.
Akhtar was accompanied by MQM-Pakistan Coordination Committee member Amin-ul-Haq, District Municipal Corporation Central Vice-Chairman Syed Shakir Ali, Land Committee Chairman Syed Arshad Hassan, Works Committee Chairman Hassan Naqvi, Finance Committee Chairman Nadeem Hidayat Hashmi, among other elected representatives and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation officers.
The mayor also inspected the pedestrian bridge and listened to the grievances of the locals gathered at the inauguration. He shared that he was aware of the struggle that the people went through, often ending up losing their lives in order to cross the road. He claimed that students, shop owners, traders and people making their way to Masjid-e-Aqsa in the locality would be facilitated by the bridge.
Profiteers jailed
As part of a crackdown on fruit sellers indulging in profiteering by violating the official price list, several people were imprisoned on Friday for seven days and slapped with fines totalling Rs75,000.
Milk sellers in Central and South districts were also fined Rs31,000 and Rs27,000 for offering higher prices respectively, whereas fines of Rs7,000 were imposed on meat sellers in District Malir.
Separately, shopkeepers throughout the city were fined a total of Rs52,000 for selling everyday household items at higher rates. The order for action was issued by the commissioner on Thursday, the first day of Ramazan.
Hospitals on high alert
Mayor Wasim Akhtar issued directives to the administrations of various Karachi Metropolitan Corporation hospitals based on the heatwave forecast for the city by the Met department. He said any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated.
He warned a further rise in the temperature and lack of winds could aggravate the situation; therefore, all possible precautionary measures must be taken. He also appealed to utility service providers such as K-Electric and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to ensure uninterrupted power and water supplies in the coming weeks.
Akhtar said that doctors and paramedical staff at the hospitals and emergency ambulance services were to be present on duty round the clock to assist as many patients as possible, while daily reports should be submitted in this regard to KMC Medical and Health Services Senior Director Dr Birbal.
