Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting with the Mayor of Karachi, here Friday has assured all out assistance and cooperation for addressing the issues of the inhabitants of Karachi. Shahbaz said, "Waseem Bhai, let's jointly redo Karachi. I am available to serve the people of Karachi without any interest. We are ready to extend our cooperation in any field including the health and education sectors."
On the request of Karachi Mayor, Shahbaz Sharif, who is Punjab Chief Minister also directed to send a team of health department to Karachi for bringing improvements in hospitals there. "Every possible effort will be made to provide best healthcare facilities to the people of Karachi," he said. A team of health department will soon visit Karachi to help improve the conditions of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases. The medical experts will submit their recommendations for improving state of affairs of the 12 Karachi hospitals to the Punjab Chief Minister for initiating necessary steps.
While talking to Waseem Akhtar, Shahbaz said the PML-N will bring a revolution of development and prosperity in Karachi and other areas of the country and all out cooperation will be extended to solve the problems of Karchiites. "If an opportunity is accorded by Almighty Allah and people chosen us to serve them in the coming elections, latest infrastructure will be developed in Karachi and other parts of the province of Sindh," he said, adding: "Karachi will be made a beautiful hub where flowers will bloom instead of garbage."
He said, "I have been saddened to see the dreadful conditions in Karachi during my recent visit. Making Pakistan's largest city a hostage to squalor is very painful". He further said the promise of elimination of energy crisis has been fulfilled while strenuous efforts have been made to eliminate the menace of terrorism. The results of our efforts have been shown in shape of improvements in economic growth, he said. "Peace in Karachi is the result of commitment of PML-N," he added.
Waseem Akhtar paid tributes to the Punjab government for adopting durable steps for public welfare and added that Karachi requires many years to achieve the standard of development attained by you.
He said the hospitals in Lahore are a wonderful example of efficient administration. The people of Lahore are lucky to have a Chief Minister like Shahbaz Sharif. Every part of the provincial metropolis, including Manawa Hospital, horticultural beauties and Greater Iqbal Park, is beautiful. Lahore model will be adopted for development in Karachi, Waseem said. Earlier, the Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar accompanied by Lord Mayor Lahore Mubashar Javed visited the Mazar-e-Iqbal and laid a floral wreath. He was also presented a guard of honour.
Talking to the media Waseem Akhtar said, "President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif should resolve the electricity crisis as people are suffering in Karachi."
He said, I am a mayor but I have no mayoral powers. Authority should be given till the lowest level of governance but this is not happening."
To a query, he said, "My party (MQM) is the second biggest party of Sindh and fourth biggest of the country; however, it is being affected owing to personal differences," he said adding, "Solid waste management in Karachi is not satisfactory."