Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said that the provincial government has launched 24 projects worth Rs802.39 billion in the city, and he wanted the federal government to match the amount in a bid to transform Karachi in “true letter and spirit”. Addressing a press conference at the CM House, flanked by provincial ministers, Saeed Ghani, Nasir Shah, Advisor to CM on Law Murtaza Wahab and Special Assistant Waqar Mehdi, Shah said: “I would request the federal government to provide a matching grant so that these projects could be completed in time.” The chief minister said that if these projects complete, Karachi would be transformed into a modern city. The projects under the development plan, include resolving the water supply issues, treating sewerage water, solid waste management, clearing water from nullahs/temporary storage and dewatering facility, building and repainting of roads, and mass transit projects, including the Karachi Circular Railway. “If the federal government extended financial helping hands generously, we will be able to change the living, life, and facilities in the city at par with other developed cities,” he said. Talking about the recent record-breaking rains, CM Shah said that it had claimed 81 lives and destroyed road, drainage system, and stormwater drain infrastructure, among other establishments. Meanwhile, the chief minister said that the appointment of Karachi Municipal Corporation’s administrator and administrators of other local bodies was the authority and power of the provincial government. However, the chief minister said that the province was consulting “with everyone” and that the administrators would be appointed soon. Replying to a question on local bodies, CM Shah said that the province had some issues over the census and once the federal government addresses them, Sindh could make de-limitations. “Once the delimitation is done, the provincial government would go ahead for holding of local bodies election,” he said. CM Shah said that the administrators of the local bodies that will be appointed soon would deliver. “The cries made for powers by the elected mayor of Karachi were the cries of inefficiency,” he said, adding that under the same powers everyone would see the delivery of the administrators.
