The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) will launch 100-day 'City Clean Campaign' from December 1, 2016. Speaking at a press conference held at KMC Old Building on Tuesday, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar said that civic body is going to launch a 100-day 'City Clean Campaign' from December 1, 2016.
He said that people from different walks of life would participate in the months-long cleanliness campaign. The KMC teams would work on road carpeting, garbage removal, and maintenance of schools, parks and hospitals during the period. These activities would be apart from District Municipal Corporation's (DMS) daily routine work, he said.
Waseem said the city's population is increasing rapidly, but resources are far less to cope with the civic challenges such as availability of clean drinking water, provision of education, healthcare and infrastructure development.
Waseem again urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to announce special development package for Karachi. He also sought monetary help from all the provincial governments to cater the city's requirements, arguing that the county benefits from the revenue being generated from the port city.
He also requested all political stakeholders including the PPP-led Sindh Government to join hands with the local government to make the city clean. "Our powers are limited, but the civic issues are bigger," the Mayor said. He said Karachiites have expressed their trust in local bodies system and have elected representatives with greater expectations. "We want to strengthen the LB set-up as it's the nursery of democracy,"
"The key issues of Karachi are on our figure tips," he said and demanded the Sindh government to transfer powers and disburse funds to the local government representatives with due diligence. He said Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, in a recent meeting, has assured him of extending his full cooperation to develop Karachi.
He said that removal of heaps of garbage is one of the biggest issues, because KMC is presently able to lift only 4,000 tons out of 12,000 tons of garbage being generated in the Metropolis each day.
Due to discontinuation of the local government system for years, the citizens faced severe civic issues. However, the local government despite all odds and challenges is trying its best to utilize the available resources in an effective manner, the Mayor said.
He said, "We are trying best to utilize the available resources in an effective manner as our teams are working with dedication to make the City better". Opposition Leader of the Sindh Assembly Khwaja Izharul Hassan also spoke on this occasion. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader, Izhar Ahmad Khan, Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Faisal Sabzwari, Ameenul Haq, Parliamentary Leader City Council Aslam Afredi, Arif Khan Advocate, District Central Chairman Raihan Hashmi, District East Chairman Moeed Anwar, and others were also present on the occasion.