- Meets leaders of MQM-P Bahadurabad faction to pledge support for city’s development
- PML-N president says world will recognise Karachi as ‘South Asia’s New York’
KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif visited Karachi on Sunday to extend his all-out support for the city’s development in a bid to reorganise the party in Sindh and strengthen its vote bank.
Speaking at a luncheon reception hosted by Awami National Party (ANP) leader Shahi Syed at Mardan House, the PML-N president said Karachi was a megacity, adding that he would restore the lost glory of the ‘City of Lights’.
Shehbaz Sharif said that terrorism and target killings had dented the city’s activities, assuring that the PML-N had always supported the development of the commercial hub.
He said that the joint efforts would be made for the development and prosperity of the country.
ANP’s Shahi Syed lauded the efforts of Shehbaz as the Punjab’s chief minister. “Everyone would have to make efforts for the development of Karachi,” he added.
Moreover, Balochistan Assembly Speaker Raheela Durrani called on the Punjab CM. The two leaders discussed topics of mutual interests and reviewed PML-N’s development programmes. During the occasion, CM Shehbaz said that Pakistan would be prosperous only when all its units were developed. “We have to work collectively for the construction and development of country,” he added.
Talking about Balochistan’s progress, he said that the Punjab government had incorporated all the units, including Balochistan, in its programmes to promote the national integrity.
On this occasion, Raheela Durrani said that Shehbaz Sharif had changed Punjab with his hard work and day and night efforts. He praised the unmatched development of Punjab and credited it to Shehbaz for his spectacular vision.
‘K-ELECTRIC RESPONSIBLE FOR POWER WOES’:
The Punjab CM said K-Electric was mainly responsible for the power crisis in the megacity.
The prime minister had convened a meeting to discuss the power issue being faced by Karachi, he said, adding that its residents should get uninterrupted power supply during the holy month of Ramzan.
He remarked that the goal of ‘zero load-shedding’ will be actualised in the Holy Month of Ramzan. Prior to the Karachi visit, Shehbaz had asked PM Abbasi to resolve the city’s power crisis.
MEETING WITH MQM-P LEADERS:
Shehbaz was received by Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at the party’s Bahadurabad office. During his meeting with the MQM-P leaders, he said that he had not come to Karachi with any political agenda.
“For the sake of development in the metropolis, the PML-N stands by the MQM-P,” he added, while addressing a joint press conference with MQM-P leaders including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Nasreen Jalil and Faisal Subzwari.
He said Karachi was the face of Pakistan, that was why former prime minister Nawaz Sharif took a bold political decision for the restoration of peace in Karachi during 2013.
“Peace has been restored in the city, which can be gauged from the fact that 80 per cent of extortion has ended,” he added.
On the occasion, MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said various political, economic and development issues were discussed with Shehbaz Sharif.
He said both the parties would work together in future for the city’s development.
“We have a good idea of our political strength in Karachi. All parties will try [to outperform each other in the upcoming election]. If we get the opportunity, we will turn the cities pain into happiness,” he promised.
“We will work together to provide water to each household, we will provide public transport. We will also build a Blue Line, Green Line, Yellow Line, network of streets and flyovers will be built, we will provide jobs for the youth of Karachi, and if we get an opportunity, we will build one of South Asia’s biggest technical universities here.”
‘PML-N TO MAKE KARACHI ‘SOUTH ASIA’S NEW YORK’:
The PML-N president vowed to make Karachi ‘The New York of South Asia’ if his party is elected in Sindh after the 2018 general elections.
Talking further, Shehbaz said that there is a port in New York and there is also a port in Karachi. “So, if New York could become a wonderful city, why not Karachi?” he asked, assuring that if the local people accompanied his party, they will fight till last breath to make Karachi a developed city.
“But these things will happen when we work together. No one can do it alone. If we do not band together… Our names will not be taken in history. The day is not far, given the potential of this city, that it will become South Asia’s New York, and the world will see it,” he said.
ADDRESS TO PML-N WORKERS:
He also addressed to the PML-N workers in Layari, Municipal Town and Gulshan Ghazi.
Talking to the members, he said that the PTI and PPP were two sides of the same coin. “Bilawal House and Bani Gala are same and the people should not get deceived by them,” he warned.
Shehbaz Sharif criticised the political rivals who “drowned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh”. “Why do you get angry with me as I just come here to show you your real face”, he said while vowing to eradicate the Karachi’s waste within six months.
He announced, “If we get an opportunity, we will first install a clean water project in the affected area… peace can’t be brought to Karachi unless there is clean water, the best facilities of transport and employment opportunities for youth.”
Shehbaz also promised to establish “more than one metro projects” in the province.
Addressing workers at the Alfateh Ground, the PML-N’s likely candidate for premiership said that Karachi had emerged as one of South Asia’s emerging cities during the 1970s, but the city’s development was then sabotaged by extortionists, murderers, and terrorists. He assured that he would return the light and hope to this city if the people make him successful, vowing to bring back the looted money.