Sindh Governor Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori on Monday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requesting for allocation of Rs100 billion for improvement of Karachi's infrastructure.
Officials said that in his official letter to the PM, the governor mentioned a list of projects cited by the Karachi mayor as requiring financial assistance from the federal government.
“I am taking this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude for your visionary leadership towards the progress of Pakistan. At a juncture, when the security situation has considerably improved, and key economic indicators are showing positive trends, it would be prudent for the Federal government to consider extending a much-needed support package aimed at advancing the development process in Karachi. Such a package would be instrumental in addressing the critical infrastructure and civic challenges faced by the city,” read the letter.
“In this context, enclosed please find herewith a copy of letter from the Mayor Karachi, wherein a formal request has been made for an allocation of Rs100 billion towards the city's development. In this regard, the Mayor Karachi was requested to furnish the details regarding Federally Funded Projects, the funds previously allocated by the Federal government, and the current status of ongoing initiatives (copy of letter is enclosed). Regrettably, the requisite details from the office of the Mayor Karachi are still awaited.
“However, in order to avoid delays, it is requested that your office may like to get necessary details from the Mayor Karachi and upon satisfaction, the Federal government may kindly consider allocating the requested sum of Rs100 billion for the development of Karachi. This allocation is imperative, as it would not only address pressing civic challenges but also foster national economic growth.
“If the proposal is deemed appropriate, it is requested that the same may be officially announced during Your Excellency's forthcoming visit to Karachi, thereby underscoring the Federal government's commitment to the city's development.”
Mayor’s talk
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Monday called on Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori to honour his promise of allocating Rs100 billion for Karachi’s development and handing over the Karachi Port Trust and railway land to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) for infrastructure projects.
Addressing a press conference at the KMC head office on Monday, he also urged the governor to communicate directly rather than through spokespersons.
“For the past 20 days, I’ve been representing Karachi’s case to the federal government. This is no longer the Karachi of the 1990s or 2007—when the city was plagued by violence, extortion and chaos,” Wahab said, adding that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had changed that narrative. “We have rejected politics of hatred and discrimination.”
He reaffirmed that he, Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad and every PPP worker were committed to the party’s manifesto under Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, promising large-scale development projects in the remaining two years of his tenure.
Wahab criticised Tessori for blocking roads with official convoys while calling himself people’s governor. He also condemned former mayor and federal minister Farooq Sattar for what he said making threats and using inappropriate language during a press conference.
“This is not the Karachi of May 12. We are not playing childish games. We are focused on cleaning drains, fixing sewer lines—not clogging them with sacks and stones,” he said.
The mayor added that the governor had previously asked for development proposals, to which the KMC responded with projects including the Northern Bypass, Port Qasim and Martin Quarters. However, instead of getting the funds released, the governor resorted to media statements, he added.
Mocking Tessori’s announcement of opening a university, Wahab questioned its credibility and suggested that he build it on a piece land that he owned. He further dismissed opposition figures taking credit for reduced electricity prices.
Wahab named key projects being completed such as a canal from the Hub Dam, K-IV water project and revamp of the Bakhtiyari Youth Centre. He also criticised past mismanagement and politically motivated hiring in municipal departments.
“The city has endured your politics long enough. We are moving forward,” he asserted, pledging to honour his late mother’s legacy and continue prioritising Karachi’s development over political point-scoring.