KARACHI: Three major political parties, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have joined hands for the development of Karachi.
In this regard, an agreement was reached during the hours-long meeting of the three stakeholders. Important figures of the Pakistan Army were also present in the meeting, sources informed.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umer, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Sindh Education Minister, Saeed Ghani and Provincial Minister, Nasir Shah attended the meeting.
Issues of potable water shortage, rickety sewerage system, and public transport came under discussion during the meeting.
The participants also discussed working out a joint plan to clean stormwater drains of the metropolis, develop civic infrastructure and remove encroachments.
They appreciated the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) role in cleaning the main nullahs of the metropolis.
The participants expressed concern over the city’s awful situation and agreed to work together for Karachi’s restoration to its former glory, economic progress, and resolution of all its problems.
Earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the National Disaster Management Authority to clean all the drains and nullahs in Karachi, remove encroachments and submit reports to it within three months in this regard.
A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard the case pertaining to encroachments on drains and nullahs in the metropolis at Karachi Registry on Wednesday.
The Court had expressed dismay over a report presented by Commissioner Karachi with respect to the removal of encroachments on nullahs and drains.
The CJP Gulzar had asked Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani about the ongoing cleaning work on Karachi sewerage drains. At which, the CJP Gulzar asked why NDMA hasn’t completed the cleaning work of other Karachi drains?
“This was the responsibility of Sindh government to clean Karachi’s nullahs, but the center intervened after the provincial government failed to clean Karachi drains,” the chief justice remarked.
Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Khalid Javed Khan told the apex court that the federal government is deliberating on different legal and constitutional options to save Karachi.
While expressing displeasure over the performance of the provincial government, the chief justice said that the government had ruined the city in the last 10 years and did nothing for the better of people.
It is worth mentioning here that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was tasked to clean the sewerage drains in Karachi by Prime Minister Imran Khan last month.
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