KARACHI: Newly appointed Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Friday said that his main task was to end the politics of “segregation” in the municipal administration.

“I will bring change ... I will give the policy after preparing my action plan regarding city service. We will immediately give as much relief as we can to the citizens,” he said, adding that the city’s municipal administration would also consult with the federation and discuss the issues of Karachi.

Administrator Wahab expressed these views while holding an introductory meeting with the officers of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and later talking to the media after assuming his new responsibilities.

Upon arrival at the KMC Building, he was received by Municipal Commissioner Danish Saeed and other officers.

In the introductory meeting with the officers, the administrator gave instructions regarding basic issues and expressed his views.

Says Karachi is facing water shortage but he doesn’t have control over water board

He said that when he visited the KMC for first time in 1994, he saw the rise and also witnessed fall of the institution.

“I don’t want to blame anyone. We have to improve this city. Everything can be done if the intention is clear, I don’t want to talk about problems, I believe in their solution. In these circumstances, whatever KMC can do, if they bring truthfulness, honesty and sincerity in their words, then it will serve the city,” he said.

Asks for action plan

The administrator directed the departmental heads to formulate their own action plans, provide full details of what they would do to improve the city in the next 30 days and explain how the issues of parks could be fixed.

“It’s the city of lights. I’ll not sit in the office or at home, but will be working on the streets,” he said.

Talking to media persons, Barrister Wahab said he had directed the departmental heads to work with positive energy.

“We will definitely give relief to the citizens. No institution in the world can function without financial stability,” he said, adding that the KMC needed to achieve the target of tax and other collections.

The administrator vowed to work for the city without any discrimination. He said that there were many problems in Karachi but the cooperation of citizens was also needed to solve them.

He said that there was water shortage in the city and added that the issue could not be solved immediately.

“I do not have control of water board but it is a civic body of Karachi and we will talk to it to resolve the issue of water shortage,” he added.

In reply to a question, he said that if the Pakistan Peoples Party was “bigoted mind”, he would not be here.

“Any officer or other employee belonging to any party has to fulfil its responsibility and we need to work together,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2021