KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday said he was committed to restoring Karachi’s status as the city of lights but all that could be possible when every citizen, irrespective of their social, political or religious affiliation, chipped in.

“I need your help, Karachi is our home and it is our collective responsibility to keep our home neat and clean,” he said while talking to the media over a breakfast of tea and egg-paratha at a restaurant near Empress Market after taking an extensive round of the city, particularly the low-lying areas, to review the post-rain situation.

Mr Shah spoke in the restaurant to the reporters travelling with him. Sitting behind a table he noticed a wooden board scribbled with a warning stuck on a wall of the restaurant advising the customers ‘Talking politics is strictly prohibited here’, reminiscing the rule of Gen Ziaul Haq when owners were bound to display such warnings in their restaurants and hotels.

“If I discuss political issues here, the manager of the teahouse may file a complaint against me,” he said with a smile when a reporter asked him a question.

Mr Shah travelled across various neighbourhoods of the city during which he saw the streets and mohallas inundated under rainwater with, in most instances, no one from the municipality concerned seen draining the water. He issued directives to the administration as he was accompanied by his principal secretary and Karachi commissioner Ejaz Khan.

He said he was well aware of the issues of Karachi because “I was born here. I rode my bike on its roads and have travelled in its passenger buses.” He added that when he was a student of the NED University his point bus used to travel on the route from Kalapur, Mahmoodabad, Chanesar Goth, Sharea Faisal, Civic Centre to University Road.

Mr Shah said he was quite worried about the people because of the intermittent rain falling since the previous night. “I was in touch with the commissioner and the administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for draining out rainwater from the roads and low-lying areas. I also talked to the K-Electric MD to get restored power supply to the areas where feeders had tripped.”

He asked the commissioner and the administrator to send the deputy commissioners and DMC administrators to the field with their workers. He also ordered activating of complaint cells.

A resident of Saddar complained of prolonged power breakdowns, at which the chief minister called the KE MD and asked him to have electricity supply restored as soon as possible.

Mr Shah said he would personally keep an eye on development works, municipal services, traffic and environmental issues affecting routine life. “We have planned to lift garbage from the city in a very comprehensive way and it would start shortly.”

During his visit, Mr Shah strictly forbade police mobiles in his protocol from using hooters.

Rain in other districts

Mr Shah also got reports from administrations of other districts of Sindh regarding widespread rains and their impact. He ordered them to be in the field and make efforts to drain out rainwater and help people in need.

The Hyderabad commissioner reported that Hyderabad city had received 112mm rainfall, as a result of which almost every street and locality was under rainwater. He told the chief minister that he had deployed equipment to drain out the accumulated rainwater at Qasimabad, and in parts of Latifabad. He claimed that all roads would be cleared by Sunday morning and then de-watering machines would be moved to other low-lying areas.

The Benazirabad administration reported that 30mm rainfall was recorded in Nawabshah taluka, 25mm in Sakrand, 12mm in Kazi Ahmed and 28mm in Daur.

In Sanghar district, the maximum rainfall of 35mm was recorded in Khipro, while in Sanghar and Sinjhoro talukas it was 5mm, in Tando Adam 2mm, in Jam Nawaz Ali 7mm.

Only 5mm rainfall was recorded at Naushero Feroze taluka while at Bhiria and Moro it was just 1mm each.

The chief minister was informed that 25mm rainfall was recorded in Thar, while in Islamkot taluka it rained 30mm, and 25mm at Nagarparkar. Umerkot district received 5mm and Mirpurkhas district 2mm rainfall.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2016