Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab Addresses Media on Local Governance and Rain Preparedness

By: Aziz Khatri

  Karachi: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that after the press conference of August 22, statistics were given to the media, and it was informed how much money Jamaat-e-Islami’s nine towns received. After this press conference, the people of Jamaat-e-Islami came to their senses and started working. The town chairmen who used to cry about powers are now working. Now it will be interesting – they will work, and we will also work. The issue is not about powers or resources; if the work is good, we will appreciate it; if it is not good, we will criticize it. In the past, terrorism was eradicated from Karachi; now we will eradicate hypocrisy as well. I will inform the people how much money each town earned from property taxes. Hypocrisy will not be allowed to prevail. For now, the matter is about rain; otherwise, I would have exposed the hypocrisy. In the context of rain, we cannot talk about an emergency yet. We are in contact with NDMA, PDMA, and the Meteorological Department. In the greater interest of the city, I invite MQM, PML-N, Jamaat-e-Islami, and PTI to work together.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at the head office of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on Monday. On this occasion, Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad, Parliamentary Leader in the City Council Karamullah Waqasi, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Dil Muhammad, Jaman Darwan, and other elected representatives were also present.

Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that rain has been predicted in Karachi and across Sindh today and tomorrow by the Meteorological Department, in view of which all leaves of the concerned municipal staff have been canceled. I, along with the Deputy Mayor, inspected the traditional choking points of drains, where the situation is satisfactory. Gujjar Nullah, Mehmoodabad Nullah, and Orangi Nullah, including all drains, are clear. Machinery and labor are deployed on 43 drains. Relief camps have also been set up around choke points where water accumulation is feared. Machinery for drainage is present at 14 underpasses. Apart from this, machinery has also been installed in some low-lying areas of Karachi. 120 vehicles of the Water and Sewerage Corporation will remain on the roads. We will ensure drainage of rainwater even in the city’s streets and neighborhoods.

The drains can drain 40 millimeters of water; difficulties arise in case of heavier rain. We had cleaned all the drains, due to which the water from the August 19 rain was drained. At present, the condition of the drains is better, and all choking points are clear. Additional pumps have also been deployed, and all underpasses are clear. Additional pumps have been sent to the underpasses as well.

The Mayor said that in the morning, I had a meeting with the Chief Secretary, and another meeting is scheduled at 3 pm. Efforts are being made to ensure that the Traffic Police and City Wardens work together. He said that after the rains, people come out in large numbers, which causes panic. In case of heavy rain, I request the public not to come out immediately. It will take two to two-and-a-half hours to drain the water after rain. We request the media to cooperate with us and control the news that spreads any kind of fear. Unnecessary speculations should not be made. If the situation worsens, decisions will be made with the help of experts. The public should not panic – their Chief Minister and Mayor are present in the field. The Chief Minister of Sindh and the Minister of Local Government were also present on the roads during the previous rains. If an emergency arises, efforts will be made to expedite relief work.

He said that all 46 drains of the city go into the sea. At this time, the biggest challenge is the sea’s high tide. During the full moon, the sea experiences high tide, during which the sea does not take in or takes in less water. Water from the northern areas is also entering Sindh. The Nehr-e-Khayam drain is clear; however, at present, water from Nehr-e-Khayam is not going into the sea, but seawater is entering Nehr-e-Khayam. If the rain is heavy, we will have to face this challenge as well.

The Mayor said that, unfortunately, here politics starts with attempts to belittle one another. Perhaps Muneem Zafar can control the sea – a meme will also be made on this – but this is not the administration that sits at Café Pyala eating tea and parathas. Even in Rabi-ul-Awwal, the entire staff was at your service. We are people who work and remain with the public in every difficult time. I know that Jamaat-e-Islami will now hold a press conference.

He said that the Baldia Ground belongs to KMC, and the federal institution PIDCL has not taken any permission to work on the Baldia Ground. KMC is carrying out work worth one billion rupees on this ground. The federal institution is not above the law to do whatever it wants. Illegal work should not be done. They cannot ruin the work we have already done; we will not allow that. Faheem Patni has contacted me. Liaquat Askani is the MPA of that area.

Mayor Karachi said that PML-N is our allied party, and with our alliance, the federal government and the Punjab government have been established. With PML-N’s alliance, we have a government in Karachi. Complaints continue to occur, but our primary focus is on serving Karachi. We will strive to resolve all the city's issues.