Residents of East and West districts assured of resolution of problems

Sindh’s local government minister on Saturday ordered the managing director of the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) to resolve the water and sanitation issues of Sachal Goth, which is located in the metropolitan city’s District East.

Holding an open kachehri at the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Public Library in the locality’s Union Committee 30, LG Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah assured the residents that their water and sanitation issues would be resolved on an immediate basis.

A statement issued by the LG Department said that a large number of the locals had turned up at the kachehri with numerous issues faced by them.

The residents recorded their complaints regarding the performances of the K-Electric and the KWSB, the health facilities in their locality, education and the lack of sports opportunities.

They also complained about the lease of the Goth, the law and order situation of the area, drug peddlers, the behaviour of the police with the ordinary citizens of the locality and the supply of gas.

The minister said that the purpose of holding the open kachehri was to listen to the people’s problems. He said that besides listening to their issues, he was there also to resolve them on the spot.

Shah said that it is a part of the manifesto of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to work for the people without any discrimination. He said that whatever issues can be resolved, they will definitely be taken care of by the provincial government.

However, he pointed out, there are a few issues that can take some time in being resolved. “We are not here for a photo opportunity but

for the resolution of the public’s problems.”

He said that on the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had asked all the ministers of the province to hold an open kachehri in their respective constituencies to resolve the public’s issues on their doorsteps.

The Sachal Goth kachehri was also attended by CM’s coordinator Shahzad Memon, East Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Ali Siddiqui, East District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Chairman Moeed Anwar, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Municipal Commissioner Dr

Saifur Rehman, KWSB MD Asad Ullah Khan, the additional secretary of the LG department and other LG officers.

Separately, a large number of concerned residents of different areas of Karachi’s District West complained about their serious and long-pending problems about garbage disposal, water supply, sanitation and the availability of other civic services.

The district’s residents were participating in an open kachehri organised at an area community hall by West DC Fayyaz Alam Solangi. Agriculture Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo presided over the proceedings of the kachehri.

Among the people who attended the open forum were activists of a number of political parties belonging to the area. A large number of the complaints were related to the supply of water and the disposal of sewage by the KWSB.

The relevant area officials assured the locals that they would do their best to get their civic issues resolved whether they concerned the DMC or any other civic agency of the city, including the water board.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC acknowledged that the district had issues, but he assured the people that the administration would fully own the problems of its residents and get them resolved on a priority basis.

He said the open public forum was organised to provide ample opportunities to the residents to frankly and publicly speak about their issues so that they could get resolved.

The agriculture minister said on the occasion that the provincial government has been doing its best to resolve the civic problems of the locals within the least amount of time possible.

He assured the residents of the district present on the occasion that whatever legitimate and just issues they have been facing will be resolved on a priority basis.

Meanwhile, District West’s senior superintendent of police (SSP) tasked the SP of Baldia Town to ensure that a crackdown is conducted within a week against the criminal gangs involved in the trade of narcotics and the chewable forms of tobacco that are extremely hazardous for human health.

The officer said that the station house officers of different police stations in the area will be taken to task and their services may be suspended if this issue concerning the trade of contraband remains unresolved after the passage of one week.

At the conclusion of the open kachehri, the DC expressed his gratitude to the different officials of the government and local administration for attending the public forum.