KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Saturday said some 38 big drains in the metropolis have not been cleaned since 2018, urging the Sindh government to begin the cleanliness of drains considering warning of urban flood by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and heavy rains prediction by meteorological department.

The drains are full of garbage and may take many weeks for complete cleanliness of nullahs. He asked the provincial government "to stop neglecting Karachi as it is the economical hub and engine of Pakistan."

The mayor passed these comments while presiding over a meeting held for cleanliness of drains here. Senior Director Coordination Masood Alam, Senior Director Municipal Services Nauman Arshad, Director Machinery Mushir Ahmed and others were also present on the occasion.

Akhtar said the meteorological department had predicted 20 percent additional rains which could bring the urban flood. The monsoon rain spell in Karachi is just around the corner that's why the cleanliness of drains should be started.

He said the provincial government kept all revenue generating departments with it and asked the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to increase its revenue. "How could the KMC increase its revenue when it does not have revenue generating departments," the mayor asked.

He said drainage system of big arteries and under passes is linked with the drains. He said that he had informed the Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah about drains under district municipal corporations but no funds were issued for DMCs.

Speaking on the provincial budget, Akhtar said Sindh government once again showed its Karachi enmity by decreasing number of schemes for the city. He added saying that the provincial government didn't incorporate even a single scheme suggested by the KMC.

The Mayor was of the view that Sindh Local Government Act has lost its spirit as it was amended so many times. He urged that serious efforts should be made for serving the people of Sindh by keeping biased political aside.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020