• PM tweets three-pronged strategy after devastating rains
• Sindh govt welcomes move, expects major anti-encroachment operation

KARACHI: In a rare gesture of cooperation with the Sindh government, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday announced a major plan to fix Karachi’s infrastructure problems after the recent devastation by record-breaking spell of monsoon rains.

Amid growing pressure on both the federal and provincial governments and call for massive reforms in the civic infrastructure, particularly drainage and municipal system, the prime minister came up with a sketchy plan for the country’s business capital that suggested a line of understanding between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led and Pakistan Peoples Party-led governments.

In a tweet, PM Khan expressed sympathy with the Karachiites for their post-rain miseries and assured them of a plan (for reforms) from the Centre which would be executed with the cooperation of the PPP government in Sindh.

“The whole nation feels the pain our people in Karachi are going through,” said Mr Khan. “However, out of this devastation & suffering there is now a positive development as my govt, along with the Sindh govt, is moving to immediately act & resolve 3 major problems of Karachi.”

He then shared a brief of the three-pronged strategy that many believe would need massive and extraordinary efforts from the authorities.

“Cleaning the nullahs once & for all & dealing with encroachments impeding water channels; devising a

permanent solution to the solid waste disposal & sewerage problems; & resolving the critical issue of water supply to the citizens of Karachi.”

Just a day ago, the PM had hinted at a “comprehensive strategy” to fix the city’s issues. While chairing a meeting of the PTI legislators from Karachi at Governor House, the PM had insisted that his party lawmakers play their role in their constituencies.

“The prime minister showed resolve that the federal government would not let down the people of Karachi and in this regard a comprehensive strategy is being devised to solve problems of the city,” said a Governor House statement issued the other day.

The Sindh government said no such plan had been shared with them by the Centre, but it welcomed the move and expressed the hope that details would gradually become clear.

“The Sindh government is not aware as such about the plan announced by the PM,” said Barrister Murtaza Wahab, the provincial government spokesman, while responding to Dawn query about details of the plan announced by the PM on twitter.

“But it’s a welcome sign and we welcome the PM’s announcement. It’s in fact a need of the hour. There’s a strong need that both the federal and provincial government move together to meet this great challenge. We hope that the details of this proposed plan will be shared with the Sindh government soon and we would also like to discuss it further during the expected visit of the PM to Karachi.”

About the post-rain situation mainly in Karachi, he said it was certainly not good, but things were improving gradually and life would soon turn normal. “But we need to find a sustainable and permanent solution. We are very clear that this city needs massive reforms in civic and urban infrastructure, and you would soon see a wide ranging anti-encroachment operation in this regard,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2020