KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation has completed its arrangements for cleanliness and repair of sewers around Imambargahs during the month of Muharram.

This was stated by Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting held at the KMC head office to review the arrangements for the holy month, which is due to start next week.

Several religious leaders including Allama Abbas Kumaili, Syed Akhtar Abbas Zaidi, Allama Zohair Abidi, Haji Hanif Tayyab, Maulana Akbar Dars, Syed Baqar Hussain Rizvi, Mufti Bilal Qadri, Ali Karar Naqvi, Imran Ahmed Salfi, Ather Hussain Jaffery, Khalid Noor, Umair Qadri, Maulana Sajid Jaffery, Mufti Abdul Hameed, Allama Dr Jamil Rathore and Maulana Umer Sadiq attended the meeting.

Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman, South DIG Javed Alam Odho, DMC Central Chairman Rehan Hashmi, DMC West Chairman Izhar Ahmed Khan, City Council parliamentary leader Aslam Shah Afridi, district municipal commissioners, chairmen of different union councils and members of City Council Karachi committees and senior KMC officers were also present in the meeting.

The mayor said arrangements had been made for the cleanliness and repair of sewer lines around Imambargahs and roads during Muharram, while emphasis was given on cleanliness of certain roads including M.A. Jinnah Road.

City wardens to assist during majalis, processions

He assured the religious leaders that all facilities would be ensured during Muharram as they highlighted civic problems in several parts of the city, including Jaffar-i-Tayyar Society (Malir), Orangi, New Karachi, Surjani Town, Kharadar, Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Korangi and Landhi.

The mayor said the arrangements during Muharram were finalised with the suggestions of ulema.

Mr Akhtar said KMC’s fire brigade and city wardens would remain on duty during major majalis and processions, and any complaint could be lodged at the central control room phone number 1339.

He said that 75 per cent of the KMC’s budget was utilised for the repair of sewers, while the municipal utility faced acute shortage of funds to carry out municipal work in the city.

“The sewer lines’ repair is the responsibility of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board,” he said.

The mayor said the KMC was doing small works like road repairs with its limited resources and added that the KMC was unable to execute mega projects and build civic infrastructure of the city to give relief to the citizens due to its financial constraints.

“It is an irony that the city that generates highest revenue in the country was unable to build its own ruined infrastructure,” he lamented.

The participating religious leaders demanded the meeting for solution to problems like shortage of drinking water; dilapidated sewerage; and broken roads, streets and streetlights.

They also demanded the release of funds for the DMCs and KMC so that they could carry out their work before Muharram.

Earlier, while welcoming the participants in the meeting Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman said the KMC fire brigade and city wardens will be deployed to control traffic during the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

He said all arrangements would be completed for the main procession at M.A. Jinnah Road.

The municipal commissioner informed the participants of the meeting that there was complete coordination among KWSB, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and K-Electric to fulfil their responsibilities during Muharram.

Dr Saif-ur-Rehman said the KMC had chalked out a contingency plan along with the KWSB to repair all sewers on the suggestion of ulema.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2018