Haque calls for cleaning up all storm water drains in Karachi

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque said on Monday all storm water drains should be cleaned up before the monsoon rains, and the process of providing alternative accommodation to people rendered homeless during the ongoing anti-encroachment drive should be sped up.

He expressed these views while inspecting the cleaning of storm water drains and the anti-encroachment drive near Gujjar and other nullahs, and Green bus project. On the occasion, officials from the National Disaster Management Authority, the Frontier Works Organisation and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation briefed the federal minister about the progress on the drive and the project.

Haque, who is also a central leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, said the displaced people would be severely affected in the monsoon rains; therefore, it was imperative that the Sindh government make arrangements to provide them alternative spaces immediately by allotting leased plots.

He said the cleaning of the storm drains was necessary to save the city from major damage during the rains. “At the same time, it is equally important to protect the poor from being displaced during the anti-encroachment drive.”

Haque said the federal government had been cooperating with the Sindh government to resolve the problems of Karachi because its main objective was to serve the people. He said that the Green Line project would be launched in September and the buses for the project would arrive by August.

He said he supported all the decisions of the Supreme Court against illegal activities. “Those who deny the fact that MQM-P is a representative party of Karachi should correct their data,” he said.

Living in the neighborhoods and fully aware of the problems, the MQM-P was taking steps in practically all forums to resolve public problems, he said. “The MQM-P is very hopeful that the problems of the city will be solved soon.”