Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the authorities concerned on Monday that the “Karachi Transformation Plan” be finalised this week in consultation with all stakeholders. This begins the process of a formal approval and implementation phase, for a permanent solution to Karachi’s problems.
Referring to the problems of Karachi and the development needs of Pakistan’s economic hub, the Prime Minister said that “the development of the country is linked to the development of Karachi.”
Saying that he fully understands the issues that the people living in Karachi are facing for years now, the premier said the government “can’t turn a blind eye to the plight of the people and the federation will play its full role for the solution of problems and development of Karachi.” PM Imran expressed these views after Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar gave a detailed briefing and presentation to him on the problems of Karachi, including water, sewerage, drainage, solid waste management and transport, and the proposed the Karachi Transformation Plan for the permanent solution of these problems.
Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi, Chairman NDMA Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal, secretaries of relevant ministries and senior officers also attended the meeting in person and through video link.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Monday that all resources were being utilized to deal with the emergency situation in Karachi without any political discrimination.
The Federal Government and its affiliated agencies were providing all possible assistance to the Provincial Government, said in a tweet.
Due to the rains, the people of the City of the Quaid were going through testing times, he said adding that the sympathies of the whole nation were with them.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked the nation for peacefully observing Ashura, but regretted that some elements had tried to ignite sectarian strife on the occasion.The premier said he had been informed of “elements who tried to ignite [the] flames of sectarianism” on the sombre occasion. “I will be taking very tough action against them,” he said.
