Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Tuesday that the unchecked growth of Karachi had created a lot of problems such as destruction of infrastructure, emergence of settlements in the slump areas and along the storm-water drains and it had created worst law and order situation.
This he said while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Sadequain Underpass in Golimar area. Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, Deputy Mayor Dr Vohra, senior government and KMC officers and others attended the function. He said that the growth of the city of Karachi is unplanned. “Lot of new areas have emerged without proper town planning. Therefore, a huge pressure has developed on infrastructure of the city. The gutters are overflowing, water supply is not enough to provide water to each and every household.
“Top of it, the worst law and order further aggravated the situation, as a result, the government instead of focusing on the development of the infrastructure engaged in fighting against terrorists,” he said and added now things had improved considerably and the government after crushing the terrorists had started paying its full attention to development of the infrastructure of the city.”
He said that Karachi was the capital of the provincial government, apart from it this city not only provides maximum revenue to the Sindh government but it contributes a lot in the national exchequer. Therefore, it becomes the right of this city and its people to have all the facilities not basic but the advanced for which he is striving hard.
Shah said that he had launched a Rs10 billion development programme in the city under which 18 different schemes were in progress. “I know almost in each and every area roads are dug up for want of laying water supply and drainage lines and their reconstruction,” he said and added this had caused serious traffic issues for which he tendered apology from the people of this city and said “when you want me to give you a peaceful and developed city you will have to support me by enduring the issues of traffic jams,” he said and added he has directed Traffic police to regulate the traffic and they are on their legs in the city during peak hours.
Addressing Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, the chief minister said, “Today I am giving you my powers, you may exercise them for the benefit of the people and development of this city,” he said and added, “We all have to work together for the people of this city.”
Earlier, Local government Minister Jam Khan Shoro briefing the chief minister on the Golimar Underpass which has been renamed as Sadeqain Underpass said project has been completed at a cost of Rs450.734 million within a period of seven months. The length of the underpass is 377.13 meter while the width of the project is 7.5 meter. It would connect Gilamar with Nazimabad, Banarus and other areas.
Mayoor Waseem Akhtar welcoming the chief minister said that the people were facing hardships due to the prolonged construction work of the underpass. Thanks to God that it has been completed and now the people of the area would take its benefit.
He said that onwards there would be no bullets and no china-cutting but this city would be protected and its people would be given maximum facilities at their door steps.