KARACHI: Federal Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has questioned the Sindh government over the utilization of funds received under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award over the past 15 years, asking where an estimated Rs22 trillion allocated to the province had been spent.
Speaking at the Karachi Dialogue seminar, he said Karachi’s problems could only be resolved through the creation of a separate province for urban areas.
He alleged that development projects such as the metro bus and mass transit systems in Karachi could not be completed due to political interference. “Karachi’s permanent solution is a new province comprising urban areas,” he said.
Siddiqui also referred to past high-profile cases, including the Baldia factory tragedy and the killings of Hakim Saeed and Amjad Sabri, saying allegations were made but nothing was ever proven.
He criticised the notion that a “Muhajir” could not become chief minister and said this reflected the need for a separate administrative unit for urban Sindh.
Without naming the Pakistan Peoples Party or other political parties directly, he accused some groups of promoting ethnic slogans when politically convenient, questioning whether other parties were not also based on ethnic politics.
He further questioned why major transport projects in Karachi, including those approved in 2006 and 2008, had not been completed despite repeated announcements.
Siddiqui added that Karachi had once been ranked among the world’s most developed cities in 2008 but had since declined. He also claimed that earlier city administrations had successfully initiated development projects such as IT parks and transport schemes, which were later stalled.
He said the Prime Minister had earlier announced that the K-IV water project would be completed by December, but progress had been slow.
The MQM leader said he speaks “as much truth as democracy allows” and added that while he had earlier said he did not want confrontation, “now we know how to fight” if necessary.
