KARACHI: City Mayor Wasim Akhtar said on Thursday that Urdu was the only language that connected people living in all provinces of the country.

“Ancestors of the Urdu-speaking community gave unprecedented sacrifices in the creation of Pakistan, but they were never given their right in the previous regimes which always implemented quota system while the community always played key roles in the formation of governments,” he said.

The mayor was addressing a ceremony held on the campus of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) on the 57th death anniversary of Baba-i-Urdu Maulvi Abdul Haq. Earlier, Mr Akhtar laid wreath on his grave and offered fateha.

He said FUUAST had played a commendable role in the promotion of Urdu language and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) would allocate funds for the university in its next budget.

FUUAST Vice Chancellor Dr S. Altaf Hussain, Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu president Zulqarnain Jamil and honorary secretary Dr Fatima Hassan, KMC officials, teachers and others were also present on the occasion.

The mayor paid tribute to the services of Baba-i-Urdu in the establishment of the university and his efforts in the promotion of Urdu as national language. His mission would continue, he said, adding that “we all will make sure that Urdu gets its right place in our country”.

Offal removal strategy

Presiding over a high-level meeting, the mayor stressed the need of adopting a strategy for removal of offal of sacrificial animals on the forthcoming Eidul Azha that could ensure proper cleanliness and better sanitation during all three days of the religious festival.

Mr Akhtar said the KMC municipal department had established the central control room at the KMC head office whereas a complaint number (1339) would also be activated on round-the-clock basis to address any complaints during Eid. Trenches had been dug in different districts of the city to dispose of offal scientifically, he said.

He said that the elected representatives along with KMC officers and district staff would oversee the whole operation in their remits.

The mayor also appealed to the people to put the offal or other remains of sacrificial animals only in the open space for lifting and disposal by municipal staff.

Representatives of the departments concerned and civic agencies attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2018