KARACHI, Aug 4: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Thursday unveiled its vision for local government which it claimed would help in transforming Karachi into a modern metropolis of the world.

The MQM’s egalitarian order through local government was spelt out by the deputy convenor of the MQM, Dr Farooq Sattar, at a news conference at Nine-Zero.

He said his party “seeks to eradicate malpractices, corruption, injustice, atrocity, exploitation, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, hunger, abuse of drugs and other social vices and crimes through a well-thought out strategy with the sole purpose, not only to make a strong and prosperous Pakistan, but also to establish a social order free from exploitation that ensures justice to the people without any discrimination.

The objectives, he said, were in conformity with Mr. Altaf Hussain’s philosophy of realism, national unity and harmony; eradication of feudalism and socio-economic inequalities and curb on arbitrary powers.

Considering Karachi as capital of Sindh and financial and industrial hub of the country, a short term and long term action plan has been drawn through the execution of which the new city/district government would be able to solve the problems of the people.

Preparation of Karachi’s master plan was on top of MQM’s agenda while all the city maps would be redrawn and encapsulated in a “digital base map” through satellite imagery. It will incorporate the outer boundary of Karachi depicting all the settlements, including katchi abadies, encroachments, street-light wires and underground water, sewerage and telephone lines etc. This base map would be the basic document for preparation of development plans of the city

As data bank was a prerequisite of all planning, the next city district government would compile and prepare this data bank within one year from its induction.

Dr Sattar said serious efforts would be made to assess the requirements of amenities for the ever-growing population and incorporate these as part of the over-all plan.

The MQM also stressed the need for survey and planning of underground service network, administrative reforms and enforcement at all levels of the LB system.

It has proposed reorganization and restructuring of all the departments that come under SLGO 2001, computerization and establishment of management and information system, restructuring the administrative machinery, training of the existing staff (capacity building) and to secure the services of most efficient personnel.

The decentralization of power and authority to the lower formations had not been fully effected till now, he said adding the city district government should make all efforts to ensure that such departments that are to be transferred from the provinces to the local councils be done speedily. It suggested transfer to the lower formations the fiscal and financial functions besides local legislation, framing of policies, and control over bureaucracy of local government and complete power of local policing.

MQM also proposed doing away with multiple corporate bodies that includes six cantonment boards, Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority, Defence Housing Authority, Railways, Gothabad Authority etc if Karachi was to be developed under a comprehensive plan.

Administrative reforms in Local Government system were essential now, for attaining this objective, a well co-ordinated effort from federal, provincial and local governments is required, he said.

He also referred to MQM’s plan to improve water supply to the Karachiites which had been mismanaged.

He also referred to various proposals for improving communication and urban transport system and said that the foundation-stone of the Mass Transit System for the city would be laid by the end of the year. Railway would be further improved by completing the loop link.