Humaira Motala
KARACHI: MQM-P has re-entered Sindh assembly with the full commitment to address the pressing challenges of Karachi and its residents without any discrimination of party affiliations. Along with the meaningful legislation, we have the resolve to face current issues of the city including curbing street crimes, developing 50 years old infrastructure, health facilities, and educational institutions and returning sense of ownership to Karachiites, says MPA Amir Siddiqui from the constituency of 102, East.
On invitation of President Pakistan Council of Media Women and senior journalist Humaira Motala, MPA Amir Siddiqui visited Chaman Street, Jahangir Road in a bid to address their long pending issues of the street and the vicinity of Balouch Para and Patel Para.
Residents of the area draw the attention of MPA to the problems of the area which have not been resolved despite approaching UC chairman Mubashir Hasanzai of Balouch and Patel Para umpteenth time. But UC Chairman never took interest in people’s problems. Responding to their complaints Amir Siddiqui said that Karachi would be flooded again like the past monsoons since local representatives were not taking interest in infrastructure development work. Old city drainage and sewage system has been totally destroyed.
Local bodies system in Karachi has failed owing to the fact that Local representatives like UC chairmen, Town chairman and Ward councilors are not rising above party, ethnic and religious affiliations. All of them were passing responsibilities from one party to another. “But I am here to address area’s problems with the aim to serve people of Karachi and I will take all stake holders on board without any hesitation”, he emphasized. There was a great need to have constructive collaboration with all parties, he added.
MPA Amir Siddiqui informed the corner meeting participants that for the fiscal year 2022/23, schemes of 8 billion were launched for the town and streets of Karachi, but not even 15% the funds were spent on development work; while the schemes of billions for 2023/24 have not been approved by P&D. 16 billion rupees were earmarked for the development work of Karachi but the all projects remained incomplete due to political rift. Here in Karachi local bodies have been divided in PPP, Jamaat-i-Islami and PTI but no one was ready to take the ownership, since each party wanted to pull down the other, he asserted.
During the meeting, the local dignitaries like Imroz Ibrahim, Imran Bhai, Rauf Bhai, Nauman, Wahid Balouch, Ali Balouch, Iftikhar Balouch, Ashfaque Bhai and others highlighted three major issues of the area. These were Severe and unscheduled Load shedding, absence of Gas Supply and old drainage system. MPA Amir Siddiqui assured try to solve the problems of the people by using all my given resources, but to solve these serious problems, all have to strengthen and unite them. “MQM Pakistan has entrusted me, has issued the ticket so that I can serve the people and I will try hard to solve their long-standing problems”.
In the end, he said that Bilawal Bhutto, Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali shah were taking special interest in education and health. CM has released funds to promote the health sectors and the educational institutions of Sindh and Karachi, but basic facilities are not being provided to the people by the institutions. “I appeal to all Pakistan-based parties to get together; the senior politicians of Pakistan should work together for the survival of the country and the province and make our country the number one country in the world”.
