Convener Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Monday said that he is not ready to take back his decision of relinquishing the federal cabinet.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar visited the temporary headquarters of MQM to convince Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to reconsider his decision to leave the cabinet.

However, speaking to press after the meeting both leaders - Khalid and Umar told reporters that today's meeting was pre-planned, scotching rumours that the latter was retrieving his resignation.

Talking to media, federal minister Asad Umar said that "it is our wish that Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui remains part of the cabinet, however, he is not ready to take back his decision."

Dr Siddiqui reiterated that his party would remain an ally of the government. "There was nothing sensational in Sunday's press conference," Siddiqui said. "We promised to support the government with our numbers and we will continue to do that.

In his press talk, Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Asad Umar said Prime Minister Imran Khan would launch a series of development projects in Karachi soon.

He informed media that projects to be launched in Karachi were those which were funded by federal government.

The minister said the projects were either completed or near completion and they were initiated after PTI being voted into power.

He said, "These are besides other large sized projects for which federal government has already announced a package of Rs162 billion."

About his meeting with MQM-P leadership, Asad said this was scheduled and meant to share details of development works under way in the metropolis.

"Our desire is to strengthen cooperation between the two political parties," he said.

He realized that water scarcity and inadequate transport system were the two major problems in Karachi and the pace of work was being expedited in a bid to complete the relevant development projects timely.

"The K4 water supply scheme that hit severe hurdles and almost got the actual cost overrun over the years yet the federal government sticks to its commitment to share half of the cost," Asad said, adding that the work on this project would start soon after the Sindh government's response to the revisions forwarded by Nespak.

He said the federal government was awaiting Sindh government's approval and once it is done, the funds would be released through the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec).

The federal minister said railways freight corridor from City Station to Pipri and upgradation of Lyari Expressway along with Northern Bypass were also being accorded top priority.

He also referred to the series of youth empowerment projects, initiated by the PTI government in the country.

Asad Umar was accompanied by senior leaders of PTI-Karachi chapter including Firdous Shamim Naqvi and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman.

MNA Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and other senior leaders of MQM including Amir Khan, Kanwar Naveed Jameel, Izhar ul Hasan and others were also part of the meeting.