‘KMC likely to get Rs10bn under ADP, Rs3bn in tax collection’

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) is expected to receive between Rs10 billion and Rs11 billion under the Annual Development Programme (ADP), and over Rs3 billion as various taxes, according to Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab.

During a meeting of the engineering department he chaired at the KMC head office on Saturday, Wahab said the municipal body would not face any funding shortage in the coming years.

He stressed the need to expedite road construction and repair works in all the districts, ensuring that contracts for such works are awarded only to the contractors who deliver quality work.

He also stressed that addressing public issues is key to solving problems, highlighting that the current priority for the city is road construction, infrastructure improvement and providing street lighting.

He noted that the public expects the KMC to have the capacity to resolve municipal issues, and praised the quality of the municipal body’s work.

He stressed the importance of strengthening the organisation, urging all chief engineers, project directors and staff to work diligently to improve the KMC’s reputation and public trust. The mayor called for the construction of II Chundrigar Road to meet high standards, along with improvements to pavements and drainage systems, and ensuring that street lights are activated immediately.

He urged expediting the construction and repair of Orangi Road, Gialana Road, Baloch Colony Road and Mewa Shah Road, insisting that further delays and negligence in road construction would not be tolerated.

He directed Engineering Director General Azhar Ali Shah to award contracts based on merit, and to reject all recommendations, including his own. He said contractors failing to meet specified standards should be blacklisted immediately.

He commended the improved cleanliness of drains this year, as well as the enhancements at parks, the Karachi Zoo and the Safari Park, which have been positively acknowledged by the public and the media.

He stressed the necessity of continuous street lighting at underpasses for public convenience and to help reduce street crime, noting that past excuses about lack of funds and authority are no longer valid, as KMC officers now have no such excuses.

He reaffirmed his support for the organisation, urging the engineering department to deliver results to restore the dignity of the KMC in the eyes of the public.

Wahab pointed out that small potholes on Karsaz Road are affecting the flow of traffic, and that some minor resurfacing on a section of Essa Nagri can improve the road conditions there.

He instructed the immediate removal of soil, debris and construction materials from the areas where roads are being built. He warned all engineers that if improvements in road construction and infrastructure do not become apparent, disciplinary action would follow.

He encouraged honesty, dedication and maximum effort to elevate the city’s infrastructure to meet public standards. He also directed the engineering department to maintain an active role during various events throughout the year, and not just during important occasions.

He instructed the engineering DG to deny road-cutting permissions on Shahrah-e-Noorjahan to any agency, or take legal action and issue compensation notices. He urged all engineers to collaborate and devise strategies to expedite road construction and infrastructure improvement for immediate results.