KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on Saturday demanded an independent audit of the Rs1 billion funds provided by the World Bank to the Sindh government for the drainage system of Karachi that collapsed in the recent rains.

The ruling party at the centre accused the Pakistan Peoples Party government in the province of misappropriation of the WB funds and demanded the resignations of key provincial ministers.

They also questioned the role and performance of Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar, who belonged to their coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, and demanded an inquiry against him as well.

The party also calls for an investigation of Karachi Mayor Akhtar over poor rain response

“In just one hour of rain Karachi got drowned due to the failed local government system of the PPP,” said city president of the PTI and MPA Khurram Sher Zaman while addressing a press conference at the party office called Insaf House.

“The World Bank has provided Rs1bn for the drainage system but it went in vain as usual.

We demand an independent audit of these funds,” he said.

He referred to the dismal state of storm-water drains in the city and mentioned the Mehmoodabad nullah, which was at its worst state and filled with garbage.

“Similarly, other drains of the city including Gujjar nullah, Korangi and Sultan nullah are also in a sorry state. Rainwater has submerged major portion of the city including the city’s largest public hospital JPMC and NICVD,” he added.

‘Where has Bilawal gone?’

He shared the situation in Furniture Market after rains and said majority of the city was flooded and residents of these areas were still suffering despite the fact that 24 hours had been passed since the rains.

“Our key road, Sharea Faisal also presented a state of a river after the rains,” he said. “But I wonder over the disappearance of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto from the scene. Where he has gone in this crucial time? Why he has abandoned the city and its people? Can anyone believe in the civilised world that this is the highest taxpaying city?”

He held Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah responsible for the situation that emerged after the rains as he was the head of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board while cleaning of storm-water drains was the provincial government’s job.

He said it was shameful that the World Bank had offered a huge fund for drains cleaning and still that grant “went into the Sindh government’s pockets”.

“An inquiry should be made on this. The CM and Karachi mayor should be [investigated]. Under Article 140-A of the Constitution, the grants must go directly to the union committees. We don’t see this much of urban flooding in other major cities including Peshawar, Multan even in Balochistan,” said Mr Zaman.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2020