Wahab discusses Karachi’s problems with US delegation

A delegation led by United States (US) Deputy Chief of Mission Andrew Schofer called on Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Wednesday and discussed with him matters of mutual interests including the process of development in Karachi.

The US consul general in Karachi, Conrad Tribble, Political Officer Weldon Montgomery and Political Specialist Saleh Shah were in the delegation, whereas the mayor’s spokesperson for political affairs Karamullah Waqasi, Deputy Parliamentary Leader in Karachi Metropolitan Corporation City Council Dil Muhammad, Juman Darwan and Muhammad Hanif Chattani were also present on the occasion.

Wahab discussed with the US delegation the recent general elections in the country. He said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had won with a huge majority in six divisions of Sindh, and of the 25 towns of Karachi, the elected chairmen of the party in 13 towns had been performing their duties whereas, the Jamaat-e-Islami had its chairmen in nine towns of the city and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in three towns.

He said the biggest challenges of Karachi were its water and sewage problems, transport, infrastructure, public spaces and construction of parks.

The mayor said there was a lack of coordination between the federal and Sindh governments during the PTI government. He added that Karachi was the business centre of Pakistan and the megacity needed to be improved to promote the economic and commercial activities of the country.

Specific information technology zones could be created in Karachi, for which sufficient space was available, the mayor said, adding that international companies could invest heavily in the IT sector in Karachi.

He said that in the Old City area of Karachi, the drainage system was old and dilapidated, due to which it could not be expanded. After heavy rains, rainwater accumulated on roads in Karachi, for which the city government had to take emergency measures, he remarked.

Wahab was of the view that due to a better and comprehensive strategy, the situation in Karachi was now under control during the monsoon rains and the flow of storm water drains was normal.

He said the first solar park had been constructed at the Kidney Hill in the city, where 100 kilowatts of power would be generated. The plan to install a chairlift between the Kidney Hill Park and the Hill Park was pending, the mayor said as he recalled that former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had planned to install a chairlift between the two hills, which would have boosted tourism and increased recreational facilities in the city.

Wahab said that more than 150,000 trees had been planted on the Kidney Hill and it had become the best urban forest in Karachi.