• Proposal to run the facilities via public-private partnership criticised for being ‘anti-poor’
• Resolution passed to honour meritorious citizens with ‘Karachi Awards’

KARACHI: Marred by protest, slogans, chaos and commotion, the meeting of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s City Council passed multiple resolutions on Thursday but one regarding operation of city hospitals under public-private partnership programme was deferred amid strong resistance from the opposition which called the proposal a move to “sell out the public health facilities”.

The general meeting of the council of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), held at its Council Hall witnessed aggressive approach from the very beginning when the opposition was seen very keen to discuss the progress of the last session’s recommendation and the treasury mostly representing Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) members was interested more in discussing Wednesday’s judgment of the Supreme Court that finally corrected a historic wrong by accepting that the murder trial of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was unfair.

As the PPP members raised their points to discuss the SC verdict, the opposition members mainly from Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf stood up raising slogans and asking for an opportunity to speak first. As the JI members were insistent on knowing the status of progress made by the committees which were formed by the council in last session, the PTI wanted to raise the issue of their jailed leader Imran Khan and party workers who were behind the bar for May 9 violence.

With both sides speaking simultaneously, shouting at each other and raising slogans, the ruckus turned the City Council into a fish market, forcing Mayor Murtaza Wahab, who was chairing the session, to involve the parliamentary leaders to calm down their members.

After multiple hiccups, the meeting finally got some flow and took up the agenda.

The resolutions passed by the council included imposition of tax on temporary cattle markets and ‘Karachi Awards’ with cash prizes for those city residents who had contributed through different mediums to the society.

A resolution was also passed to pay tribute to PPP leader Abdullah Murad, father of deputy mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, who was gunned down in Malir in 2004.

The City Council also passed a resolution seeking restoration of city parks and installation of solar systems in facilities running under the local government system.

However, it witnessed strong resistance from the opposition benches when the PPP member Juman Darwan presented the resolution to the house seeking public-private partnership to run the hospitals under the KMC.

The council member, while justifying his resolution said that the KMC was facing financial challenges and the number of hospitals it owned across the city were unable to offer desired services.

“If we bring in private operators and provide them some space, they would be in a better position to run these hospitals and bring better changes for both — public and local government. I request this council to approve this resolution so we can bring reforms in our health system running under the KMC,” he added.

However, his arguments failed to convince the opposition. Advocate Saifuddin, parliamentary leader of Jamaat-i-Islami from the opposition on this occasion came up with a strong counterargument.

He said the proposed move would open ‘commercial avenue’ and deprive people from free treatment facilities, which was the core responsibility of the state and the local government system.

“We believe that this is a very sensitive issue and you can’t pass such a resolution in such a haste,” he said.

“We wonder why the chair [Mayor Wahab] didn’t inform the council members or at least parliamentary leaders about the agenda. We should have been made aware that such a resolution would be presented. We don’t support such a move and want this council to discuss this very sensitive matter.”

Upon strong protest, the resolution was deferred till the next meeting of the council.

Mayor Wahab also vowed to take parliamentary leaders of the council into confidence while preparing agenda for the next meeting at least three days before the session was summoned.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2024