KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-led City Council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation through a unanimous resolution on Monday demanded that the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government should not hold the next local bodies elections unless powers, resources and funds were devolved to the local government representatives.

The City Council session, held in an unusually congenial and cordial atmosphere with all opposition parties, including the PPP, Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, extending cooperation to Mayor Wasim Akhtar, also adopted another resolution demanding that the Supreme Court expeditiously dispose of the mayor’s petition seeking powers at grass-roots level to strengthen the local government system.

The two resolutions, adopted unanimously by the council, were presented by the mayor verbally as the chairmen of different union councils, belonging to both the ruling and opposition parties, complained of a shortage of funds and piling of civic problems in their respective areas.

The mayor in his resolution said that the local bodies polls should not be held if the powers, resources and funds were not given to the local government representatives. He demanded that Article 140(a) of the Constitution be implemented in its letter and spirit.

23 resolutions passed without any interruption

The mayor through the other resolution said that the apex court should pass a judgement immediately to give the financial and political powers to the local government representatives at grass-roots level.

As many as 23 resolutions were also passed unanimously as the members belonging to both the ruling and opposition parties addressed the house, expressing grave concern over the shortage of water, lack of sanitation facilities, cleanliness and other basic civic facilities without being interrupted or hooliganism, an otherwise regular feature of City Council sessions.

Menace of stray dogs

The members drew the attention of the council towards the increasing number of stray dogs across the city and demanded of the provincial government to provide vaccines for dogs and medicines for dog-bite cases.

The council was told that 100 to 150 dog-bite cases were reported daily in Karachi, which is a serious figure.

The mayor said that the KMC had sought help from the provincial government for the provision of vaccine as the municipal administration took serious notice of stray dogs in the city.

The adopted resolution said that people were unable to walk in the city due to stray dogs and children were particularly the victim of those dangerous animals.

The mayor said that the number of stray dogs was increasing day by day in the city due to the heaps of garbage and debris as those dogs got food from them.

He said that the numbers of kites and vultures was also increasing in the city and asked the provincial government to immediately take notice of the menace of stray dogs as the KMC had no funds for the purpose. “Aircrafts’ safety is endangered due to kites,” he added.

Referring to the NFC award, the mayor said that the provincial government should get its due share.

He said that the Rs162 billion development package [announced recently by the prime minister during his visit to Karachi] was not enough and it would be immaterial without taking the Sindh government into confidence. “With the support of the Sindh government, positive results will be achieved,” he remarked.

The mayor also urged the political parties to shun their differences and work for the development of the city.

Referring to Bagh Ibne Qasim, he said the park was ruined because of official negligence, but the KMC restored it to its original position after great efforts.

UC chairman Junaid Mukati of the JI said that the city generated Rs4,000bn taxes yearly, but it was deprived of basic civic facilities. “Karachi should be given a Rs500bn package,” he said.

Meraj Shah Jilani of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf said he and his party were with the mayor on his petition before the apex court seeking powers and resources for the local government representatives.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2019