March 29, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 20, 1429

KARACHI, March 28: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has stated that there was no “hidden” agenda behind his recent meetings with the visiting US Congressmen and Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, adding that the focus of all discussions was on the issues relating to the metropolis.

Speaking at a press conference in his office on Friday after his meeting with the six-member US delegation and Mr Negroponte, the nazim said he apprised them of the city government’s efforts to bring the metropolis on a par with other international cities.

Mr Kamal said that the US dignitaries’ visit to the city underscored the importance of Karachi in the whole region.

“I informed them that Karachi contributes 68 per cent of the national revenue and that any disruption in the city’s progress will have a direct impact on the progress of the country,” he said, adding that the matters relating to welfare and betterment of the people of the city came under discussion at the meetings.

In response to a question regarding any role the US was willing to play in the city’s affairs, the nazim said that “only those living in Karachi will have a role to play… and Pakistan will have a role to play in the city’s affairs… any talk of an external role is nothing but speculation.”

In reply to a question, he said there was no discussion on the wrapping up of the local government system. “This is our own domestic issue and it is for the people of Pakistan to decide whether to continue with the system or not.”

Mr Kamal declined to comment on various statements and remarks about these meetings.