MQM-P not given funds for development despite being PTI’s ally, says mayor

Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Tuesday said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmakers were not provided with funds for the development work, neither the local bodies representatives were given special financial assistance to tackle the coronavirus crisis.

Talking to media after a fumigation campaign in the District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Korangi, he said the local bodies could be empowered only if the federal and provincial governments were willing to do so.

He said his party endorsed policies of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) federal government. “Other allies of the government are provided with funds,” he said, addint that the MQM-P was not issued any funds for the development work in the metropolis.

“At least 50 staffers equipped with modern machines took part in the fumigation drive and used latest machines for spraying in small streets of the DMC Korangi,” he said. DMC Korangi chairman Nayyer Raza, vice chairman Ahmer Ali, MQM-P coordination committee member Abu Bakar and officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) were also present on the occasion.

The mayor asked the federal government to make the elected local government representatives a part of its team in the fight against the pandemic. “The local bodies representatives should be empowered as they are the ones who are aware of the local issues," he said.

The mayor said the DMC Korangi arranged the fumigation drive from its own expenses. He assured that small streets would also be covered during the campaign. He said the fumigation drive was a very serious matter and that the DMCs did not even have the resources to lift garbage. Akhtar added that the KMC lacked the required machinery to cater to the needs of the city.

“The Sindh government,” he said, “never supported the local government despite their repeated appeals. We have provided precautionary kits to doctors and other paramedical staffs on our own.”

The Karachi commissioner and different welfare organisations had given precautionary kits to the KMC which would be disbursed among doctors and paramedics, he said.

The mayor also talked about the salary issues of doctors and paramedics, saying how could they perform their duties if not paid salaries on time. “The Sindh government should resolve their issues on a priority basis.”

Along with doctors and paramedics, he also hailed the law enforcement agencies and the media persons, saying their work was commendable. Akhtar asked the owners of the media organisations not to deduct the salaries of the journalists.

"At this time, we support the government as it is not the time for criticising the government but ensuring joint efforts," he said.