Business community also responsible for Karachi's sorry state of affairs: mayor

Mayor Waseem Akhtar Tuesday said Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) cannot be blamed alone for the Karachiites' sufferings as the business and industrial community is also responsible for the sorry state of affairs. They are busy in getting only their business-related issues resolved and not vocally raising voice against this mess.

Criticizing the rules and regulations defined in Sindh Local Government Act - SLGA-2013 by the Sindh government, Waseem said that amendments were crafted by himself for SLGA 2013 to strengthen the system and he was advocating the city's demand of the implementation of Article 140A at the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Speaking at a meeting of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Waseem maintained that due to untiring efforts of last four years, a realization has finally emerged as the Chief Justice of Pakistan, before commencing a specific case proceedings, asked the AG Sindh to read Article 140A of the Constitution which categorically states that 'administrative powers, political powers and financial powers should be devolved to the third-tier of governance.

Similarly, there is also some realization in Sindh government as recently a statement appeared in media in which it was mentioned that Sindh government is looking forward to empowering the Mayor and KMC.

Waseem further said the controversial SLGA-2013 has reduced the number of departments under KMC control while many other powers and functions, which even though are conferred to the Mayor's Office under SLGA-2013, are actually still under Sindh government's domain which was the key reason behind host of problems.

"All revenue generating departments are being administered by the Sindh government while KMC manages only hospitals, parks, fire brigade, etc, which are not earning anything but require a lot of funds."

He said that with limited resources, KMC was striving to improve the performance of those departments which fall under its domain. "Although hospitals and parks under KMC control were not in ideal conditions and the people were facing lots of difficulties, yet we are trying to improve the situation despite severe shortage of funds," he maintained.

Referring to Siraj Teli's remarks to resign from Mayor's post if powerless, Waseem Akhtar stated that he was not in favor of resigning from the post as it would prove counterproductive and would never help expose all the wrongdoings being done to Karachi by the federal and Sindh governments.

He said that billions of rupees were being collected through various taxes by Sindh government while a meager amount is being collected from charged parking. It was impossible to run the administrative affairs of the city with nominal funds being generated from charged parking and parks' entry tickets.

Chairman BMG and former President KCCI, Siraj Kassam Teli said that till date, Karachi has never been owned by anyone, neither by MQM nor by PPP, PML (N) and ANP. Everyone has grossly looted and minted money from Karachi and did nothing for this city.

"There was a time when MQM was in power with maximum authority. Had they desired, they would have certainly developed Karachi. MQM, PPP and ANP are all equally responsible for ruining the city. Where we stand today is only because of dirty politics. All the parties were not concerned about Karachi and resultantly this approach created a disastrous situation."

Teli said, "Not just these political parties but we all are also responsible for the problems being faced by Karachiites as many of us, instead of criticizing, are usually busy in giving hails to the presence to politicians, bureaucrats and even the high-ranking police officers. We have to look at ourselves and must start speaking the truth only which is not any easy thing to do but is the only way out."

"We, at KCCI regardless of the consequences, have always spoken the truth which is why many lawmakers are reluctant to visit Karachi Chamber fearing volley of questions and explanations", he added.

The Chairman BMG said, "If our Mayor has just 10 percent authority over the city's administration and is held responsible for all the disasters, he should immediately step down. If I would have been at the Mayor's place, I would have certainly demanded all the required powers otherwise, I would have resigned from the post."

He said that Karachi contributes more than 70 percent revenue to the exchequer and more than 95 percent revenue to Sindh Revenue Board. The rest of the country and the province are being run on the earnings of Karachi but unfortunately, Karachi receives nothing in return.

KCCI President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan expressed deep concern over the dilapidated infrastructure of the city where the road and sewerage networks were in an awful state. The city also faces encroachment, traffic jams, transport, water and gas shortage issues, which have intensified the hardships not just for business & industrial community but also for the masses.

"To deal with transport and traffic jam issues, it has become inevitable that the Karachi Circular Railway must be operationalised at the earliest," he added.

He urged the decision makers in Islamabad and Sindh to put their differences aside and work collectively to improve the standard of living and business environment in Karachi which was in the larger interest of the country.