KARACHI, Feb 11: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan on Friday sought help of Japan for rehabilitation of leprosy patients, their vaccination and provision of treatment by using modern technology.

Speaking at a seminar held at Leprosy Hospital Manghopir to celebrate International Leprosy Day, he stressed on need to educate people about leprosy and decreasing complex feelings in patients.

He said that leprosy was now a treatable disease and patients could be cured from six months to two years. "Sometimes even family members do not accept such patients which is very miserable of our society," he added.

"The city government is making efforts for rehabilitation of leprosy patients to make them respected citizens but there is need of vaccination and modern treatment technology to achieve this goal and we are looking forward to Japan for help," he said.

He also directed medical superintendent of the hospital to get the encroachment removed from its premises and inform Nazim Secretariat about the details. The medical superintendent informed the nazim about the facilities being provided at hospital. Medical Attache of Japanese consulate also spoke on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the town nazims belonging to Al Khidmat group criticized MPAs and ministers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for creating hurdles in the development activities. "The Muttahida is levelling allegations against the city government just to camouflage performance of its provincial government," they said.

The town nazims alleged that despite being part of each and every government in last 17 years, the ethnic political party did nothing for the welfare of people apart from creating unrest in the province, terrorism and extortion.

However, they claimed that owing to untiring efforts of city government and its head Niamatullah Khan, Karachi had once again emerged as a city with improved infrastructure. Citizens were facing lesser hardships as compared to the past owing to the better planning and steps taken by the city government and town administrations. --PPI