KARACHI: In a veiled reference to the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said on Monday that no one, including those who always claimed to be the city’s sole custodians, took the ownership of Karachi.

“Karachi is our city and it is our duty to keep it clean, green and free from all kind of encroachments,” said Mr Shah, who is the chief executive of the province for the last eight years.

The CM expressed these views while talking to newsmen after his visit to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation-run Sobhraj and Abbasi Shaheed hospitals and Gujjar Nullah in Nazimabad.

He lamented that amenity plots in the city had been sold, trees chopped down and storm-water drains had been encroached.

He said that every citizen was facing serious problems including those living on the encroached lands of storm-water drains as their children were being drowned while playing there.

Highlighting the purpose of his visit, the chief minister said: “I have given a lot of funds for cleanliness of storm-water drains and upgrade of KMC hospitals and today’s visit to the city is to witness the condition of the KMC-run hospitals to see the difference after utilization of funds.”

The CM had recently released around Rs1.9 billion for upgrade of KMC-run hospitals, repair and maintenance of some important roads and cleanliness of storm-water drains.

Besides, he said, some extra funds were also provided to lift garbage accumulated at different locations in the city.

He expressed his displeasure to see encroachment along the Gujjar Nullah.

“The drain which had the width of over 30 feet has now reduced to seven or eight feet because people constructed their houses,” he said, adding: “How could these drains take storm water and sewage together. Definitely, they get choked and water start gushing out on to roads and streets. This is how our cities are inundated.”

He also directed the LG minister to work out a detailed plan to shift the encroachers from storm-water drains so that cleanliness work could be undertaken in a proper way.

About possible heatwave this year, he said: “I am quite satisfied that the district administrations, KMC and health department collectively made good arrangements by setting up heatstroke care centres.I am sure this time rapid response, in case of any emergency, would protect life of innocent citizens.”

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2016