KARACHI: Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq on Tuesday called for a Rs500 billion package from the federal government for development of Karachi and warned that any move to privatise the Pakistan Steel Mills would be opposed.

Addressing a press conference at Karachi headquarters of the JI Idara-i-Noor Haq, Mr Haq sought allocation of Rs500bn for the development projects of the city, early completion of water supply and sewerage schemes, including K-4 and S-3, payment of compensation to affected families of the Baldia Town factory inferno and release of JIT report on the tragedy. “We also demand the federal government to take immediate action against K-Electric for its overbilling and loadshedding,” he said.

“The salaries of the Pakistan Steel Mills employees should also be paid at the earliest and there should be no attempt to privatise the national asset. The local government system in the city has collapsed as you see in the city of lights, streets and sewerage system has become ineffective.”

He said the government had made tall claims in order to rectify the local government system, but nothing practical could be done in this regard.

He asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to announce special packages for the people of the metropolis during his visit to Karachi in coming days.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018