KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that the work is going on systematically to provide better and quality municipal facilities to the citizens, adding water, sewerage, electricity and gas are the main problems facing the city.

“All civic bodies have been coordinated to provide relief to the people as soon as possible. Karachi is the hub of the country’s economy and is an international city. The purpose of developing Karachi is to take steps towards the economic stability of the country,” he said during an informal chat with a delegation member who visited KMC on Thursday morning. The delegation comprised the participants of the mid-career management course of Balochistan Civil Services Academy.

Wahab welcomed the delegation to the KMC head office and informed them about local government system and other issues. He said most of the areas of the city are managed by different agencies. Cantonment boards also control civil areas, the problem of sewage and rainwater drainage in Karachi is being solved on a priority basis, KMC has 45 drains while the town administration has control over 500 drains. It is natural for water to stop after rains, the sea does not take water during high tide, there is a problem of water leakage in underpasses, so underpasses are not suitable for Karachi. He said there is pension and gratuity arrears to the retired employees for seven years and steps are being taken to solve this problem, he said that tree plantatiion is being done in the city to control the problems of climate change and pollution, but chronocarpus trees are no longer being planted in Karachi, chronocarpus trees have been removed from Shara e Faisal and other highways.

The participants of the second mid-career management course of Balochistan Civil Services Academy were given a detailed briefing regarding the administrative structure of KMC, budget, various departments, Sindh Local Councils Act and other issues at the headquarters of KMC. On this occasion, Municipal Commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi also answered the questions of the members of the delegation and told about the facilities provided to the citizens by the Municipality of Karachi. He said it is important to know about local government because these same officers have to assume important civic responsibilities in future. He said Local government is the third level of government, which is important worldwide. Citizens have direct contact with local bodies, so they have a primary role in solving problems at the grassroots level. The delegation also visited KMC building and City Council Hall where they were given important information.