Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that we will not let Karachi drown as it was submerged in the past.
After Ashura, a coordinated operation against encroachments will begin in collaboration with the administration. When legislation was made against the use of plastic shopping bags in Karachi, bribes were offered, and then some people approached the court to halt the matter. On June 19, 2023, the elected mayor and deputy mayor of the People’s Party took command of Karachi and started working under a public-friendly manifesto.
In the previous term, the mayor collected 1.2 billion rupees in revenue in his last year, whereas in our first year in the office we collected 2.8 billion rupees. The leadership of the People’s Party increased KMC’s revenue by 150% in one year. The cleaning of rain drains is ongoing and will continue until September. He expressed these views while addressing a press conference on Sunday. Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad, Mayor Karachi’s Spokesman for Political Affairs Karamullah Waqasi, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of PPP in the city council Dil Muhammad, and Jumman Darwan were also present on the occasion.
During the crowded press conference, the mayor presented a one-year performance report, stating that the revenue target for this year will be increased manifold. Numerous projects have been made for the welfare of the people of Karachi. Expenditures incurred from the grants received from the provincial government will be accounted for in front of the public.
Every quarter, the expenditure report will be presented to the public. Many projects are ongoing, and many new ones will be started. After 20 years, additional water is being brought to Karachi, and the 45-year-old infrastructure is being rebuilt. The old canals are being replaced. Recently, a 75 billion rupees project that had been pending for two and a half years was approved. Six new garbage stations are being built at a cost of 10 billion rupees, and a modern landfill site is being constructed at a cost of 12 billion rupees. Malir and Jam Sadiq Bridge will be reconstructed, with a deadline for all these projects set for December 31, 2025.
Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that in the past, Jamaat-e-Islami ruled Karachi for 12 years, and MQM for 13 years. The mayor of the People’s Party has completed only one year. During the recent rains in Karachi, rainwater drainage continued, and no water accumulated anywhere. When it rained in Lahore two days ago, no opposition party or governor held a press conference. However, immediate criticism starts in Karachi. Today, KMC’s machinery can be seen on the roads in preparation for the rains. Those who make negative comments and propaganda will not see the improvements. May Allah protect Karachi from the envy of the envious and the mischief of the wicked. During Wasim Akhtar’s tenure, KMC’s running buses were stopped. Now, the PPP mayor is bringing the buses back on the roads. Most of our time was under the caretaker government.
Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab said that with the hard work of Karachiites and PPP workers, he and Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad have taken up the service of Karachi. Every system has flaws and difficulties. The responsibility of leadership is to tell people the solution to problems, not the problems themselves.
He said that within a year, they increased collection from 1.2 billion to 2.8 billion without collecting anything new but from old properties. All the money collected will be spent on the people of Karachi. We will improve all the hospitals under KMC’s control. We will make all our income data public, including all expenses and where the money is being spent. Income from MUCT and tolls will be made public, and grants from the Sindh government will also be made public.
He said that after the KMC budget, it was said that nothing was kept for Karachi. Unfortunately, they did not read the budget book. This budget includes additional water for Karachi after twenty years. The Sindh government of Bilawal Bhutto is supporting us to bring additional water to the city. We will prevent water wastage and give it to the citizens.
We are spending 90 billion rupees on improving pumping stations to enhance the water system. District West, District Central, and District Kemari will benefit from the additional water. He said that the Malir Expressway project is also in front of everyone, and the Korangi Causeway Bridge is included in the development projects. We are striving day and night to improve the Sindh Solid Waste Management system. In the past, there was no system to pick up garbage in this city.
Mayor Karachi said that steps are being taken to improve parks and hospitals. The 56 billion rupees Malir Expressway project is in front of everyone. Funds have been allocated for the Malir Bridge and Korangi Causeway. A new drain has been constructed at Qalandaria, which was tested during the recent rains. In the past, KDA Chowrangi used to drown. During the rains on I.I. Chundrigar Road, the former president used to leave by boat. A new landfill site is being built in the city. Previously, 500,000 rupees were allocated for UCs, which has been increased to 1.2 million rupees. This step has been taken to empower UC chairmen further. I am grateful to President Asif Ali Zardari and party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for increasing UC funds.
He said that our target list includes a clean and green city. We are moving our institutions to solar power. Solar lights will be installed on three major roads of Karachi. After the success of the project, the solar system will be brought to other roads as well. We have also chosen our markets, which will be transferred to the solar system, and cheap electricity will be provided to shopkeepers.