KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated on Monday four schemes which were part of the Karachi Mega Projects in the city.

While opening those projects, the PPP leader said they would provide better transport facilities to the people of the teeming metropolis.

The four projects’ combined cost Rs1,747 million, said officials.

Addressing the audience after opening the four schemes, the PPP leader said Karachi’s development was important for everyone who got people’s mandate to represent them at the elected forums.

He said people residing in shanty settlements should not be made homeless when the harsh winter had made their lives difficult already.

He urged Mayor Wasim Akhtar to stop anti-encroachment campaigns, if there was any ongoing, in the city to help people protect from the extreme cold weather.

Bilawal commended the PPP government in Sindh for initiating many development projects in the provincial capital that included the four schemes he had opened.

‘Karachi is Pakistan’s economic hub and its development is important for everyone in the country’

“These schemes are very important for Karachi’s communication network and will help in improving our city’s traffic problems.

“Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan, it is economic hub of the country and its development is important for not just those who live here but everyone in Pakistan.”

He claimed that the PPP’s was the only government in the country the work of which was tangible and could be shown to everyone.

“Our government is the only one in the country that is functioning and we can show it,” he remarked.

He said such development could not be possible without the concerted philosophy his party had adopted.

He added that providing health, education and other facilities to the people of Sindh were in accordance with the party’s programme, yet, it did not end its agenda.

“We know that people in Sindh deserve more; people living in Sindh’s capital deserve more, we do realise that and our government is striving to do to meet what people want for a better life.”

He alleged that the federal government was not providing a rightful share to Sindh in resources and funds.

“No matter how difficult times are and how the federal government makes it difficult for our Sindh government to meet its development agenda, the Peoples Party cannot compromise and cannot be deterred from demanding the rights of Sindh.”

He said the agenda of Sindh’s development would always be on the top of the party’s policy.

“We will have to think and come up with a way to expand the scope of our development. We should find ways and means that help us working more with limited funds,” he said.

He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led federal government over its decision to remove 800,000 people from the Benazir Income Support Programme’s roster.

“It is cruel and unjust to snatch Rs1,000 from poor women in this economic situation,” he said.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari said public-private partnership was the one way to work on mega development projects.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Senator Saleem Mandviwala, and ministers Saeed Ghani, Nasir Shah and Murtaza Baloch attended the inauguration ceremony.

Besides, PPP’s provincial leaders Nisar Khuhro, Waqar Mehdi, Rashid Rabbani, Ajiz Dhamrah, Yousuf Baloch, Javed Nayab Leghari and others also attended the event.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated the schemes vis-à-vis construction of bridges at Korangi 2 ½ and Korangi-5. Besides, the projects of Haider Ali Underpass and improvement of streets surrounding the Cantonment Railway Station were also inaugurated.

The PPP leader was informed that work on the four projects had begun during the current fiscal year.

Mayor thanks PPP chief

Mayor Wasim Akhtar thanked the PPP chairman and people of Karachi for completing the development schemes in the city.

He requested Mr Bhutto-Zardari to help him in improving the city’s water supplies, sewerage system and transport facilities.

He said such issues were vital for the people of Karachi and his Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan would stand by him if those issues were effectively resolved.

He regretted that the city was not given its due share despite it generated 65 per cent of the country’s tax revenues.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2019