Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab today said that Rs 30 billion will be spent this year on the development of the city. The tenders for the Saba and Ajmer Nagri pumping stations have been completed, while work continues on the project that will bring an additional 70 to 80 million gallons of water to the city.
The mayor said: “To address the water shortage in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, the KLSR pumping station is being made operational. The Khamiso Goth road will be inaugurated in a few days. The pumping stations in Malir and Gadap have been shifted to solar energy, benefiting 56 settlements. New graveyards are being planned for the city; work will begin as soon as land is allocated, and a summary has already been sent to the cabinet for approval.”
He added that if any graveyard administration charges extra fees, citizens should file complaints at the KMC helpline. Regarding the theft of manhole covers, he said that help from the police will be sought. City wardens are installing manhole covers daily, and 208 new covers have been installed in the Jamaat-e-Islami-controlled UC areas.
He expressed these views on Tuesday during the inauguration of various projects, including the rehabilitation of the sewerage system and construction of paver blocks, in UC-38 and UC-39 of Manghopir, Surjani Town, District West. PPP Karachi Division General Secretary Rauf Nagori, Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the City Council Dil Muhammad, Jaman Darwan, UC Chairperson Zubaida, the Vice Chairman, and other elected representatives were present on the occasion.
Wahab said, ‘I will not resign at anyone’s demand. This is my city; I will stay right here. Those who didn’t become mayor have gone off to Lahore. They do not have the intention to work. Holding press conferences is easy; delivering results is difficult.’
He said the condition of this road was extremely poor, and it connects three union committees. In line with the PPP manifesto, work worth Rs. 100 million was initiated, under which 110,000 square feet of road was paved and completed. The repair of the drainage system and the installation of paver blocks in UC-38 and UC-39 have improved drainage conditions and the state of the roads. More than 200 manholes have also been constructed to enhance the drainage system.
This project has improved the area’s basic infrastructure and will bring a positive change to the lives of local residents. The sewerage system was fully fixed before installing the paver blocks, and the drainage lines were improved for a long-term solution. The work has been completed and presented to the public – not only announced, but delivered.
Mayor Karachi said that in 2020, Yousuf Goth was severely affected by rains, but PPP carried out complete rehabilitation work there, which is why Yousuf Goth remained safe during the recent rains. The people of the area elected a PPP chairman, and the party fulfilled their trust by delivering development work.
He said that previously UC chairpersons received Rs500,000, which was increased to Rs1.2 million, and later increased again to Rs1.3 million. Despite this, some elements are still engaging in hypocrisy by calling this amount insufficient. ‘If you cannot run your towns and UCs, then we will run them and show how it’s done.’
The Mayor added that earlier there was ‘China-cutting,’ and now these people are doing road-cutting. ‘We build the roads, and the Jamaat-e-Islami town chairmen give permission for road-cutting. Rs. 14 billion were collected in the name of road-cutting. This cannot continue- we will not allow anyone to cut the roads we build and then blame the Mayor.’
‘This city belongs to everyone, not to any single party. We oppose the politics of prejudice, division, hypocrisy, and criticism. I appeal to all parties to stop the blame game and work together for the city’s development. Let’s unite for the progress and prosperity of Karachi. The Pakistan Peoples Party is fulfilling the promises it made to the people of Karachi, and development projects are being completed across the city without discrimination.’