KARACHI: Old water, sewerage system to be replaced
KARACHI, Nov 16: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has said that city’s old and obsolete water and sewerage systems would have to be replaced and improved within one year.
In his address to KWSB officials of grade 17 and above at the board’s conference room on Wednesday, he expressed the hope that KWSB officials would work with dedication in line with his perception and policies.
The nazim said that if anyone had any problem or constraint to work he should tell him right now or else the process of accountability would be very strict. “I am going to form a working team and would like to know who and how many are going to join his team,” he said.
Mustafa Kamal said that Rs2.70 billion had been handed over to the KWSB within a month for improvement of water and sewerage system. He said that more funds would be made available if this amount was fully utilized.
He pointed out that there were such officials, who were occupying the same seat for the last 20 years and worked under various governments. However, he added, a new administration had come to the helm of affairs and it had its own priorities, principles and working methodology.
He said he did not want sprinkling of charcol on roads just for cheap popularity. “I want to do something which could be beneficial for common citizens of Karachi,” he remarked.
Mr Kamal pointed out that without improved water and sewerage systems, construction of roads would be meaningless. He said that he wanted this work to be done within months and, therefore, the officials should get prepare to work for day and night.
He said he needed technical assistance and best skills of KWSB officers and their work should start from today without involving into discussion as to who was an angel in the past and who was not. Those showing good performance would be encouraged, he assured.
He said in the past responsibilities were not performed properly - might be because of some exigencies. But, he added, his present policy was that only and only the people were to be served.
The nazim pointed out that Karachi was not a small city but hub of Pakistan’s economy. If water and sewerage services here could not be rectified, neither the system nor the organization responsible for the same would be needed anymore, he remarked.
He observed that some 27 Acts were in practice in the water board and every officer was functioning under the Act of his choice. He said that they used these Acts with their own explanation which he would not allow. He also issued directives that the entire system should be changed with special care to be taken of rules and regulations.
He pointed out that whatever happened in Karachi in the past was now part of the history and said, “I want to convey the message that the organization and people cannot be deceived anymore. We are playing with the lives of people who are being killed in a city like Karachi merely because of contaminated water. This is regrettable and the game must be over now and we should start work from today,” he added.
KWSB Managing Director Brig Iftekhar assured that the officials of Water Board would fully implement nazim’s policies. Misbahuddin Farid assured of all cooperation on behalf of the Watar Board officials.
Meanwhile, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said that the One-Day International match between Pakistan and England to be played in Karachi on Dec 15 would not be cancelled following Tuesday’s bomb blast that killed three people and injured 21.
Talking to newsmen at National Stadium Karachi, Mustafa Kamal said arrangements for holding the match were in full swing and would be completed soon before the match. He said there were no security concerns for the visiting side as Karachi was a safe place that hosted many international tournaments successfully for many years.—APP/PPI
