Murad to write letter to PM for release of K-IV funds for its completion
Irfan Ali
KARACHI Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the
federal government has only released Rs4 billion for the K-IV project, which is
less than a quarter of the allocated amount of Rs16 billion and this shortfall
will cause further delays to the project, therefore and he plans to approach
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss the issue.
This
he said while talking to media just after submitting the nomination papers of
PPP Senate Candidates – Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Aslam Abro and their covering
candidates Waqar Mehdi and Aajiz Dhamraha at the Election Commission of
Pakistan, Sindh.
It
may be noted that these two senate seats had fallen vacant after the
resignation of two PPP Senators - Nisar Khuhro and Jam Mehtab Dahar who
returned as members of the provincial assembly of Sindh in the general election
held on Feb 8.
The
chief minister said that both the PPP candidates would easily be elected as
Senators from the provincial assembly. “We need only 108 votes against which we
have 114 votes in the assembly, therefore we will get them elected easily for
which I am congratulating President Asif Ali Zardari,” he said.
In
response to a question, the Chief Minister stated that Mayor Murtaza Wahab is
working tirelessly to develop Karachi into one of the most advanced cities in
the world. As an elected mayor, he has all the necessary powers. The CM
expressed that any further reforms to the local bodies law, if required, will
be made by the Sindh Assembly. The CM also expressed regret that the PML-N was
not authorized to make amendments to the local bodies law, as demanded by the
MQM.
Syed
Murad Ali Shah said that he had talked to the MQM for the election of Speakers
and Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly. Presently, MQM leadership is in
Islamabad for the Prime Minister’s election and we would approach them for the
presidential election, the CM said.
Mr
Shah admitted that MQM and Sunni Ittehad Council have stakes in Sindh,
therefore we would consult them for legislation, and other concerned matters.
“I want to take all the stakeholders together so that the issues of the
province can be resolved with collective wisdom.
He
said that maintenance of law & order was the responsibility of the
provincial government for which he has given necessary instructions to the
police and the Rangers. “We would soon get rid of street criminals and dacoits
in the Riverine area.
When
asked about his plans, the Chief Minister stated that he is fully committed to
implementing the 10-point election manifesto of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto
with utmost sincerity. He further added that the PPP government in Sindh has
always worked diligently to serve the people of the province, which is why the
people have elected the party to power in Sindh for the fourth consecutive
term.
In
response to a question, the Chief Minister stated that the newly elected Prime
Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, would be taking the oath of his position today
(Monday). The CM further added that the primary responsibility of the Prime
Minister would be to strengthen the economy. The people of the country are
currently facing an unprecedented rise in prices, and the new federal
government would have to take steps to alleviate this issue. According to the
CM, this can only be achieved by withdrawing the subsidies being enjoyed by the
elite.
Mr
Shah stated that he intends to write a letter to the prime minister, requesting
for the completion of the K-IV project. He emphasized that the K-IV project is
crucial to meet the water requirements of the city. The federal government had
allocated Rs16 billion for the project, but only Rs4 billion has been released
so far. He expressed concern that if the remaining funds for the project are
not released soon, it will cause further delays.
Murad
Ali Shah said that on special occasions such as Ramadan, Eid-ul_Azha and others
the traders drop down prices of edible items and clothes but in Pakistan, the
price of such items were deliberately increased which was unfortunate.
To
a question, the CM said the protest by GDA was beyond his comprehension. The
question is how many assembly seats they had contested and the seats they lost
are those which they have always been losing traditionally, he said and added
when they had no candidates for the majority of the seats when they were
protesting.
According
to Mr. Shah, Pir Sahib Pagara had previously announced that the elected MPAs of
the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) would not take the oath. However, they went
ahead and submitted their election returns to the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) and got themselves notified. Mr. Shah observed that this
indicates that the GDA MPAs-elect did not keep their promise to Pir Sahib
Pagara.
The
CM said that under the 10-point agenda of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto the Sindh
government would construct houses for the poor people out of flood-affected
areas.
To
a question, Murad Ali Shah questioned who had allowed the construction of shops
on the stormwater drains and now they were trying to become innocent and owner
of the city.
