Administrator Karachi Saqib Ahmed Soomro said on Tuesday that powerful mafia was behind the encroachments in Karachi for which municipalities were facing strong resistance; however, the government had decided to free the city from these encroachments.
“Amenity plots will be used for the original purpose only or their allotment will stand cancel for which necessary law making was already made. Solid waste management board was established to remove more than 2,000,000 tons of garbage and waste which was deposited in the last 10 years in the city rivers, drains and empty plots,” he said.
He said that only 10 per cent of the garbage generated in the city could be removed before the launching of the cleanliness campaign by the provincial minister for local government. Due to the campaign more than 75 per cent of total garbage had been removed, he claimed.
The administrator Karachi said work on Elevated Expressway will begin after the documentation process was completed.
To a query, he dismissed the impression that the private sector was doing development projects for its own benefit and said in fact those projects would be beneficial for the citizens and if the constructors got some benefit it would not harm the city.
He said that his goal was to provide more and more facilities to the citizens. The only solution for the transport problems in Karachi lies in the BRT system and the government was working on three different lines in this connection. The Blue Line project would be completed with the help of private sector after which much of the city’s transport problems would be solved.
Administrator Karachi said the government has decided to remove the encroachments in the city. Action against marriage lawns established at amenity plots was already started and their allotment and lease would be cancelled for which the resolution had already approved.
He said the daily expenditures in KMC were being meted with its own recovery, whereas payment of bills pertaining to staff salary, pension, petrol, diesel, and feed for zoo animals had been on our priority list.
He said the performance of KMC hospitals was not so bad and these institutions were facing more administrative problems than financial ones. “I have started surprise visits to these hospitals and the doctors and paramedics will have to face the action if they are found not absent from their duty.”
