Wasim Akhtar asks for referendum over bifurcation of Keamari District
Pak Chronicle Report
Karachi
Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Sunday said that if Sindh is “Dharti Maa” of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) then entire Pakistan is our “Dharti Maa” and they would not allow division of it.
“PPP has only four UCs in district West. All areas that generate revenue have been included in District Keamari and this move of the PPP is aimed at getting money and political gain,” Akhtar said this while laying stone for development works of Rs200 million in Orangi Town, stated a press release issued by Media Department of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
Flanked with Federal Minister Syed Ameen ul Huq, the Mayor was welcomed by the citizens. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan leader Shaikh Salah ud din, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Works Committee Hassan Naqvi, UC Chairmen, elected local government representatives and people in large number were also present on the occasion.
Akhtar said Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had accepted that the KMC could not carry out development works due to lack of power. “We would not have been in the people, if we didn’t work for the people despite having power. The situation of Karachi might have been different had the KMC was given due powers,” he added.
The mayor said that the federal government had provided Rs1 billion through which development works are being carried out. He said that all revenue generating departments have been kept by the provincial government.
“Neither District Chairman of West nor people were taken on board before bifurcation and creation of Keamari district. The people should be asked through referendum whether or not they want new district,” said the Mayor.
He was of the view that new provinces should be created as constitution duly permitted it. “Everybody knows what the PPP had done in 1971 but we won’t let the history to be repeated. All stakeholders are taken on board in the democracy,” he added.
Akhtar said that Karachi would be prosperous when there is empowered local government system. All civic departments kept by the Sindh government and police should be under mayor.
He said that the people of the city want Karachi to be a metropolitan city. He said that all schemes would be completed even after their tenure. He said that four schemes are initiated with the funds provided by the federal government including road construction from Shahrah e Orangi to Sharah-e-Qaddafi.
Before construction of the roads, sewerage lines would also be fixed and all these works would be completed within four months. Besides he said that encroachment would also be removed.
Ends
