Umar: Time to rise above politics and work for Karachi's development

Karachi: Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said up to 62 per cent funding for the historic Karachi development package of Rs1.1 trillion (Dh24.4 billion) will be provided by the federal government while the remaining 38 per cent will be arranged by the Sindh government.

“No matter which of the stakeholder contributes more and which one provides less funding, the important thing is that everyone has to work together for development of Karachi while rising above politics,” Umar said at a press conference here at Sindh Governor House on Sunday. He spoke to the media a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan came to Karachi and unveiled the massive development package for the city after heavy rains further weaken its civic infrastructure.

The package envisages construction of Karachi Circular Railway at a cost of Rs572 billion, restoration of drainage system of the city for Rs267 billion, upgrading of its sewerage system (Rs141 billion), Rs92 billion for water supply projects, while roads in Karachi will be built at a cost of Rs41 billion.

Umar said he was compelled to speak about the greater share of the federal government in the newly announced development package after Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed that Sindh government of PPP had Rs800 billion share in the total Rs1.1 trillion package for Karachi.

No more debates

He said that the statement of PPP chairman was against the understanding reached between representatives of federal and Sindh governments before the announcement of the development package that all the stakeholders would now onwards work together for development of Karachi without indulging in the debate about whose share was more for development of the city.

He appreciated that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had so far been adhering to his commitment made at the negotiations with the federal government as he had not said anything about the share of the federal or Sindh governments.

The federal minister hoped that the leadership of the PPP would let CM of the party work with the same spirit for development of the city.

“For God’s sake, nobody should do politics, do political point-scoring, or tarnish the facts as we are ready to work jointly for development of Karachi as this spirit should continue,” he said.

He said that the leadership of both the federal and Sindh governments were under solemn obligation to work for development of Karachi given the importance of the city for economy and trade of the country.

No progress

“God willing, this package will succeed because all the state institutions and governments in the country are going to work together for development of Karachi and to fulfil its needs while realising that this city is the centre of the revenue generated in the entire country. Without making this city functional, Pakistan would never do progress as per our desire,” he said.

Also speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Information Technology Syed Aminul Haque, who belongs to Muttahida Quami Movement, which is a major stakeholder of Karachi’s politics and an ally of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in the centre, said that the local government system of Karachi and all such urban centres in the country should be strengthened in accordance with Article 140-A of the Pakistan’s Constitution so that basic issues of the people could be resolved at their doorsteps.

He said that Karachi’s population should be properly counted as it had not been in the last census of the country in 2017 so that fiscal resources were provided to the city adequately.