Opposition parties slam govt’s performance as it rains in city for third consecutive day

It rained in Karachi for the third consecutive day on Sunday. Drizzle was reported in the Malir, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Jinnah International Airport and their adjoining areas, while Sohrab Goth, Safoora Chowrangi, Federal B Area, Surjani Town and Sharea Faisal also received some rain, causing traffic jams for a while.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said rain-carrying clouds have spread over the western and central districts. Earlier in the day it had said that various areas in the city would receive moderate to heavy rain, as there was a likelihood of thunder cell formation in the city’s north, west and east.

On Saturday also rain had lashed parts of Karachi, with Nazimabad and Paposh witnessing 37.2mm of it, while Keamari received 25mm, Mauripur 23mm, Korangi 22mm, Quaidabad 12mm, Orangi Town 4.5mm and DHA Phase-II 3.5mm.

Other areas that also received showers included II Chundrigar Road, Saddar, Bahadurabad, Tariq Road, Sharea Faisal, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony and their adjacent localities.

‘Under control’

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab visited various areas of the city on Sunday to inspect the post-rain situation. He told the media that during Saturday’s rain the major issue arose due to water flowing from the Paposh Hills and Hyderi in District Central.

“There was a significant pothole which exceeded the capacity of the drains,” he said, adding that the municipal team managed to drain the water within two hours, and that he visited the site to inspect the drains, which were found to be clear.

He also said that the situation remained under control after the rain. The municipal staff will remain present on the ground, he added. He requested people, especially motorcyclists, to drive carefully during rain. “The roads may be slippery,” he said, adding that the traffic remained smooth on the roads after the rain.

‘KMC staff active’

Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad also visited various areas of the city after the rain. He reviewed the rainwater drainage arrangements in the Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Nursery and Sharea Faisal areas.

Murad said he and Mayor Wahab are present in the field, adding that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) staff is active. “Wherever machinery is needed, we are sending it.”

‘Exercise caution’

K-Electric issued a press statement to advise residents to exercise caution when using electrical appliances during the rainy season. “Unsafe use of electrical appliances like water pumps in rain, and standing water can cause accidents,” the KE spokesperson said.

“Residents should maintain a safe distance from TV and internet cables, broken wires, and electrical installations,” the spokesperson said, adding that obtaining electricity through illegal means and using illegal connections (Kundas) can lead to fatal accidents.

“Due to water accumulation in the low-lying areas, electricity may be temporarily cut off as a safety measure,” the spokesperson mentioned. “KE is monitoring the situation, and field staff are on alert.”

‘No drains cleaned’

Speaking at a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Munem Zafar said that a little rain exposed the performance of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Sindh government, the KMC and KE.

Zafar said that on the one hand the streets are turning into streams due to rain, while on the other, the lack of cleaning of the city’s 38 major storm water drains has caused them to overflow.

He said that this has resulted in the death of a 12-year-old boy named Saleem in Block R of North Nazimabad. On Wednesday, he pointed out, two children had died after falling into a gutter in Memon Goth.

He lamented that nothing has been done to clean the city’s 38 major and 500 minor drains. He stressed that residents are suffering from severe mental and physical distress due to water accumulation on the roads, and power outages.

He announced that his party would hold a public protest on Hub River Road on Tuesday (tomorrow) against the water crisis and severe load-shedding in the city.

He said that the direct responsibility of water supply and drainage lies with the PPP’s provincial government and Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation Chairman Wahab. He claimed that under the PPP’s patronage, the tanker mafia is thriving in the city, selling water at high prices through illegal connections.

He asked why the provincial government is not providing water to people through taps. Later, the JI leader attended the funeral of the boy who had drowned in a North Nazimabad drain.

‘No visible effort’

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Karachi President Raja Azhar said that it seems that the brief spell of rain in the city has lowered the mayor’s blood pressure. He claimed that no municipal representative is visible anywhere in the city.

Water passing through piles of garbage on the streets is a harbinger of diseases for the residents, he pointed out. “Neither was there any visible effort to clean the storm water drains before the rains nor were the garbage piles reduced in any area of the city.”

He asked why PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari did not take notice of five children falling down an uncovered manhole in the deputy mayor’s union committee. He accused the authorities of deliberately entangling the public in issues related to electricity, gas, water and petrol.