Calling the distribution system of sugar through USC outlets a failure, the member of the City Council on Wednesday demanded of the federal and provincial governments to take alternative measures to ensure the availability of the commodity at government rates.
Both the treasury and the opposition members in the general session, held at City Council Hall at Old KMC Building with Naib Nazim Nasrin Jalil in the chair, complained that despite repeated claims of the government, the poverty-stricken people were still forced to purchase sugar at Rs 70-80 per kg across the city.
At the very outset of the session, Arshad Qureshi of Haq Parast group, on a point of order, said the city was going through a historic sugar crisis, as people continue to run from pillar to post for even small amount of the commodity, at an exorbitant rate.
Zakir Hussain, another member of the ruling party said beside sugar shortage, the distribution system was also faulty as one utility store was being given at least 100-150 of two kgs' bags of sugar, which was insufficient to meet the demand of over 1000 bags at the same store. Another member of the group informed the House that some black marketers were also caught selling sugar which was later found containing salt and other injurious materials, at different areas of the city's outskirts.
Rafeeq Ahmed from Alkhidmat Panel also accused the black marketers, who were minting money in connivance with the sugar mill owners in the province. He alleged that a certain group of people was controlling the Utility Store Corporation (USC) outlets.
Asif Siddiqui, who is also leader of the House, said why the people should go to USC outlets, where they wait and queue for the whole day to get a bag of sugar. To facilitate the crisis-hit masses of the city the government should ensure the availability of the item at every general store at the controlled rates, he added.
He claimed that trucks loaded with sugar coming from interior Sindh were mostly smuggled to Afghanistan. This is one of the reasons why STC failed to facilitate poor people, who were eventually forced to buy the daily use item at exorbitant rates, he added. Ibrahim Mughal, an opposition member claimed that people in his UC in Lyari area, were getting sugar at Rs 40 to 42, without any problems and there was no shortage of the kitchen item.
Beside the sugar issue, Abdul Jalil of Haq Parast group dwelt on power crisis and informed the House that Karachi Electric Supply Company, under the management of Abraaj Capital, was saving fuel at the cost of its consumers' comfort.
While demanding enlisting the names of KESC high-ups on exit control list, he said that the performance of the new management so far should also be made public. The sugar and electricity crisis were unlikely to end unless some result-oriented measures were taken, he added. Jumman Darwan, deputy opposition leader, once again raised the issue of murder of Nisar Baloch, President of Gutter Baghicha Bachao Tehreek, who was gunned down by the alleged land Mafia.
He said both the coalition partners - Pakistan People Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) should jointly resolve the issue and take stern action against the land Mafia, irrespective of their political affiliations. However, Masood Mehmood said that Owais Qarni Society has been established at the area, which was inaugurated by Nisar Khoro, few years ago. Later, the convenor adjourned the session, to meet again on December 2, 2009 at 12pm.