HYDERABAD, July 22: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has said that he has asked his allies in the district government to discuss merits of the city district government plan for Hyderabad.

He said that if consensus was not evolved about the plan then it could be sacrificed because he cherished harmony and peace among the people of city the most.

He said that it was not his personal desire that Hyderabad should become the CDG but the city deserved such status.

Speaking at a press conference at his office on Saturday, he rejected fears of nationalist parties and said that no demographic changes would take place in the city after it was given the status of CDG.

Instead, he said, the talukas would be able to provide better facilities to people.

Mr Jamil said that formation of the city district government in Hyderabad would enable the district to demand maximum funds for providing civic facilities to people.

He said that assets of existing taluka municipal administrations would remain with them.

He said that his application to the Sindh chief secretary was in fact a reminder that CDG’s notification should be issued for four talukas of the district.

He said that Hyderabad fulfilled criteria of becoming the CDG therefore the decision should have been announced by the Sindh government on its own.

The nazim said that more than 66 per cent of district’s people were associated with non-agricultural jobs and their economy was based on industries, trade and services.

He said the revenue generation in cities which was collected by the federal government and if Hyderabad was contributing handsome amount then it needs an equal amount for upgradation of its infrastructure.

He referred to the claim of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commercial that last year the city generated Rs22 billion revenue.

Replying to a question, he recalled that former District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman had demanded status of the city district government for pre-bifurcated Hyderabad but now he was raising the same demand because he was the district nazim of existing district.

He said that district nazims of Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar and Matiari could demand CDG for their districts.

Replying to another question, he said that when districts were divided local leaderships of existing new districts were taken into confidence and they supported the division which was reflected in demonstrations, hailing the creation of new districts.

He said that the recovery of Wasa had increased to 40 per cent from 21 per cent ever since he took over the charge.

“Even if 100 per cent recovery takes place only Rs17.5 million can be recovered against Wasa’s expenditure of Rs40 million”, he said.