Staff Reporter
Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar said that the trend of weakening and dismantling of key institutions for political reasons must be stopped as no real progress or prosperity could be achieved with keeping the local bodies weak and powerless. Negligence and inattention led to devastation of basic civic infrastructure. The situation would not have worsen had we taken right decisions at right time.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation comprising the participants of senior management course in the National Institute of Management Karachi which led by Abdul Haseeb called on him on Wednesday. Mayor Karachi welcoming the delegation said that the civil services officers should keep themselves away from political pressure and always work for progress of the country.
Karachi runs national and provincial economy therefore it required extraordinary policy. The country would benefit from improvement and progress in Karachi. We are ready for coordination with the provincial and federal government for the betterment of city. Mayor Karachi said local government institutions are considered the nursery of democracy and have the ability to resolve problems of citizens on grass root level, whereas the provincial governments can only do law making. Powers should be devolved to lower level so that people could be benefited from it. He said despite having limited resources, KMC making it possible to provide basic municipal facilities to a city of more than three crore people. Though elections of local government were held under the directive of Supreme Court, the powers were still to be devolved to these institutions.
If funds and OzT share was released regularly, most of the projects can be made on the KMC and DMC level. Correction of water supply system would be our priority if we get the funds for it after which solid waste management, sewerage system and bringing improvement in city hospitals will be our next priority.
