KARACHI: In sharp contrast to the previous sitting, which was marred by brawls between rival members, the general meeting of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) City Council on Saturday proceeded in a notably calm and orderly manner as all 12 resolutions on the agenda were approved without disruption.

The session, chaired by Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad, approved a sum of Rs116.424 million for the installation of 50 LED street lights in each of Karachi’s 246 union committees.

The decision is aimed at improving public safety and visibility.

Another Rs199.9m was approved for the improvement, rehabilitation, and development of Imambargahs and Muharram procession routes across different districts, ensuring safe passage for religious gatherings.

House unanimously pays tribute to Bilawal over completion of Shahrah-i-Bhutto in ‘record time’

The council also granted post-facto approvals for emergency works already executed. This included Rs149.99m for urgent reconstruction, repair, and carpeting of the road leading to PAF Airmen Academy at Korangi Creek, and Rs59.80m for improvement and renovation of Empress Market, Saddar.

In addition, Rs43.89m was approved in two separate resolutions to cover measures taken after the Gul Plaza tragedy and the subsequent debris removal operations.

Other key decisions taken unanimously included the issuance of a No Objection Certificate for establishing a Government Degree College in Lyari, District South, to expand access to higher education.

The council also approved naming the KDA North Nazimabad Flyover after Dr Pervez Mahmood Shaheed in recognition of his services.

The house also approved amendment to a previous resolution to award the Karachi Museum project at Beach View to M/s Heritage Cultural Preservation Foundation instead of The Citizens Archive of Pakistan.

The house unanimously adopted a resolution paying tributes to Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for the record-time completion of Shahrah-i-Bhutto Phase-I.

The 39-kilometer, six-lane expressway connects Shahrah-i-Bhutto directly with the M-9 Motorway and was completed at a cost of Rs55 billion.

Speaking on the floor, PPP Parliamentary Leader Karamullah Waqasi said the party had pursued the project relentlessly despite “conspiracies and political hurdles”, in line with the public service vision of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

He thanked Opposition Leader Advocate Saifuddin for his earlier call to maintain decorum in the house, adding that such an atmosphere allowed meaningful debate on public issues.

Mr Waqasi said that Shahrah-i-Bhutto was not just a road but a lifeline for Karachi’s economy and said that work on multiple signal-free corridors was already in progress.

He emphasised that while political differences were natural, members should avoid personal attacks and character assassination.

Opposition Leader Saifuddin welcomed the completion of Shahrah-i-Bhutto, calling it a positive development for the city.

He proposed the formation of a supervisory committee comprising members from all sides to monitor ongoing and future development schemes to ensure transparency and quality of work.

The opposition leader said that KMC council was the largest local government body in the country, and protecting its sanctity was a shared responsibility of every elected representative.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf member Asad Aman also addressed the house, paying tribute to chairman Bilawal for completing the long-pending project.

The council approved several major allocations through resolutions.

Earlier, the session began with a condolence resolution, unanimously passed, for former UC Chairman Izhar-ul-Haq Hassanzai, former council member Ashraf Awan, and the young son and nephew of UC-7 Mominabad Chairman Idrees Shamsi, who were killed in a recent firing incident.

Later, the deputy mayor adjourned the session for an indefinite period.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2026