KARACHI, May 23: The City Government has launched war preparations in response to India’s aggressive designs and officials of all concern departments will work in close coordination to face any eventuality.
City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan stated this in a press conference here on Thursday. He said that the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is grossly mistaken in assuming that Pakistan is a weak country.
He announced that the City Government will hold a “Defence of Pakistan” march on May 28 from the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum.
Highlighting the importance of May 28, the Naib Nazim, Tariq Hasan, said that Pakistan became the first Muslim country to detonate its nuclear device on the day and we will register our names as volunteers for the defence of Pakistan.
He said that he would be the first to register his name as a volunteer and lead the youth of Karachi to forward positions.
Naimatullah Khan announced the measures being taken to meet the war situation. He said all holidays in the concerned departments have been cancelled. The health department would take care of all medical needs, while the civil defence and fire departments of the KPT, Pakistan Railways and the City Government will chalk out their coordination strategy.
The concerned departments of provincial and federal governments, including Sui Gas, KPT, CAA, KWSB and ambulance service providers also held a meeting with the City Government after the press conference.
About the measures taken in this regard, Naimatullah Khan said that in the first phase, a meeting will be held with concerned officials and groups. He, along with the Naib Nazim, will hold a meeting with leaders of different groups of the City Council on Friday, he added.
At noon, an All Parties Conference will be held in the City Government Secretariat and participated by a majority of the political and religious parties of the city. In the evening, a large gathering of elected representatives belonging to all 178 UCs and 18 Towns will be held.
He called upon the international community to play its due role and pressurize India to follow the principal of live-and-let-live, rather than bullying its neighbours.
In reply to a question, the City Nazim said that no emergency has been declared in Karachi, and called upon the residents not to create any panic-like situation due to the war hysteria by India.
Naib Nazim, Tariq Hasan, appealed for an atmosphere of national coherence and unity in this time of need.—PPI
