KARACHI: Cleanliness drive in Landhi, Korangi begins today
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, July 15: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has decided to observe a week of cleanliness and revamping of civic facilities from June 16 in Landhi and Korangi.
This was stated by Mrs Nasreen Jaleel, deputy convener of the MQM coordination committee in a news conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. She said that the civic facilities had been at a halt since the operation of June 1992 against the party. The news conference was also addressed by MQM’s MNA Dr Farooq Sattar.
The decision was taken in the backdrop of several water borne deaths following the reports about collapse of sewerage and water system in Landhi and Korangi areas.
During the week-long campaign of cleanliness, to be led by Dr Farooq Sattar, heap of filth would be removed from various places besides clearing the choked water pipelines. Repair of broken sewerage and water supply system would also be undertaken. Moreover, the entire area would be sprayed to prevent the spread of malaria and other diseases. The campaign would also include adoption and development of parks in the area.
Explaining salient features of the MQM’s “Civic Services Week”, Mrs Jaleel pointed out that following the military operation of June 19, 1992, development work in Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony had been stopped and civic infrastructure was devastated.
During the last 11 years, she said, water supply and sewerage systems were completely destroyed and the problems were compounded further by the alleged terrorist activities of the Haqiqi activists.
She pointed out that recently the governor had approved Rs100 million for various development schemes in the hitherto neglected area. In addition, the MQM’s elected representatives had initiated the wok of replacing the dilapidated sewerage and water pipelines to provide relief to the harassed people of the locality.
Asked whether the campaign would be financed from the fund provided by the Sindh governor, Dr Sattar said that the projects which would be financed by the amount provided by the governor had already been identified. He said that arrangements were being made through the local government ministry and the cooperation of the city and town governments had also been sought.
To another question, Dr Sattar admitted that he was not sure as to what extent the local governments would cooperate with the provincial government in this campaign. However, he expressed hope that as the matter was related to the betterment of Karachi and its people, everyone would play his due role positively.
He said that unutilized fund, which was at the disposal of the previous MNA, had been transferred to non-lapseable fund and hinted that it might be available during the campaign.
Dr Sattar told a questioner that after the success of this campaign, similar exercise could be undertaken in other parts of the city and the province.
When he was questioned that the planned week-long campaign tantamount to encroach upon the jurisdiction of the city government, Dr Sattar made it clear that such human issues should not be politicised and refused to be dragged into a controversy.
The MQM’s MNA elected from NA-255, Dr Farooq Sattar, vowed to work for middle class revolution by involving them in the decision making authorities and in addressing the basic problems of the masses.
He expressed hope that the area residents, who he claimed had been emancipated after 11 years of brutalization, would also play their role in the rehabilitation of services. He said that women had very important role to play in the overall development of the country.
He said that the elimination of feudalism was the ultimate goal of the MQM and added that the demand for provincial autonomy was aimed at strengthening the provinces and the country.
He claimed that by accepting the autonomy demand of the provinces, the feeling of alienation would be removed.
