Army chief assures early resolution of Karachi’s issues

KARACHI: Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday met a delegation of traders and assured them that the issues of the metropolis would be resolved soon.

According to details, during the meeting, the traders said the recent downpour halted all industrial and economic activity in the city badly affecting the business community.

The delegation also conveyed their grievances to the army chief and urged him to bound the electricity, gas, water and other utility providers to solve issues faced by the metropolis.

They said Karachi pays a tax of Rs 2,600 billion annually and therefore its issues should be solved on a priority basis.

During the meeting, the COAS said that a committee has been established comprising the representatives of federal and provincial governments to solve the issues faced by the city.

He mentioned the business community would also be given representation in the body. Bajwa maintained that issues facing the city, including road infrastructure, water, power and gas would be resolved on priority.

The COAS further said that the development of the country is linked to the development of Karachi.

He pointed out that downpour has been classified as a Level 2 disaster due to the extensive damage, adding no city in the world could cope with rainfall of such intensity.

He stressed on the need for inter-provincial coordination and increasing further cooperation in diverse fields.

The army chief reached Karachi on a two-day visit on Tuesday. He was flown over the city for aerial reconnaissance of the ground impact of urban flooding.

The COAS was briefed about the worst urban flooding in the recent history of Karachi and the Army’s support to the civil administration across Sindh and particularly Karachi.