KARACHI: Pak Sarzameen Party chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal on Friday expressed his concern over exploitation of the flood situation by “certain powerful mafia” and said that it was already grabbing private and state lands in Karachi in the name of settlement of flood-affected people of rural parts of the province.

“In the name of flood victims, the powerful mafia has started seizing the lands in Karachi,” he said while speaking at a press conference at his party’s Pakistan House headquarters. “The law enforcement agencies should take immediate notice; otherwise the situation could turn out of control.”

Mr Kamal also appealed to the people of Karachi to donate for the flood-affected people keeping their past tradition.

He also shared the concern over “ineffectiveness” of the administration in the flood-hit areas to keep a check on hoarders and profiteers, who were already exploiting the situation.

MQM-P, PSP ask people to donate for flood victims

He said that the people should come forward in these challenging times to help their brothers and sisters but at the same time, it’s the responsibility of the authorities to keep the process transparent.

He demanded that the government put an effective system in place to monitor the performance of the district administrations across the province.

The absence of such system, he feared, would lead to financial corruption and misappropriation of funds, which were expected to flow in after a countrywide appeal for the assistance.

He also called for an effective local government system arguing that without such mechanism the situation would get more dreadful in coming days as many more would die of hunger than the floods.

“The recent floods have caused more damage than the devastating earthquake of 2005, but the prime minister, chief minister and senior officials will only be able to make estimation on the devastation without local governments,” he said.

MQM-P appeals for donation

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) also appealed for funds and donation from the people of Karachi while initiating its relief operation in Sindh and Balochistan under its charity wing.

It said that many party volunteers had already left for the flood-hit areas while efforts here in the city were under way for dispatching relief goods, recruiting more volunteers and arranging resources for the calamity-hit districts of the two provinces.

“Our workers are already in the flood-hit areas and we have set up camps across Karachi appealing the people of this city to come forward and help those in need. It’s time to show unity keeping all political and ideological differences aside,” MQM-P convenor Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told a press conference at the party’s temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad.

The MQM-P had set up cams in different parts of the city, including its temporary headquarters in Bahadurabad.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2022