KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar said that all over the world local bodies were made powerful but here political games were being played with these institutions.

“No democracy could be strengthened without making the third tier of government strong. The prime minister, president and other high ups have been requested to pay attention [to] resolving Karachi’s issues. I have sent proposals for infrastructure betterment and am waiting for decisions in this connection.”

He expressed these views while talking to a delegation comprising participants of the 24th Senior Management Course in the National School of Public Policy, Lahore, which called on Mayor Akhtar in his office in KMC building on Friday morning.

Replying to queries from members of the delegation, the mayor said that garbage removal was not rocket science; it needs commitment and better planning to lift and dispose of garbage generated in the city.

He said that the prime minister wants to bring improvement in Karachi but the city needs funds more than wishes; there is a need to give funds to Karachi for resolving its core issues.

Mayor Akhtar said that the city roads and pavements are encroached upon which increased its problems. He said that considering the prevailing situation we have submitted short- and long-term development plans to the provincial as well as federal governments and are now waiting for their action.

Mr Akhtar said that Karachi is an important city of Pakistan with a large population. However the mayor has no powers to initiate a project costing more than Rs20 million. He said that transport problems in Karachi are also on the rise and if we want to solve the problems of the city we will have to formulate the policy on federal level and give powers to one organisation.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2018