KARACHI, July 8: Sindh Minister for Local Government, Katchi Abadis and Spatial Development Mohammad Hussain Khan has directed all the towns to maintain close liaison with union councils for identification of the areas, which need immediate attention for sanitation and fumigation.
While inspecting the anti-encroachment drive and cleaning of rainstorm drain during his visit to New Karachi, North Nazimabad and Gulberg towns, the minister ordered that stagnant rainwater in some areas must be drained out at the earliest.
He also directed the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to ensure proper functioning of all sewerage lines.
Mr Khan said that all towns should ensure fumigation as flies and mosquitoes bred on stagnant water after rains, increasing the chances of outbreak of malaria and other diseases.
He asked the union councils to compile data of rain losses so that compensation could be provided to the affected people.
The minister said thunderstorm was a natural calamity and it was very unfortunate that political parties and religious groups usually tried to gain political advantage from the situation by making baseless allegations.
This only proves that they have no sympathy for the affected people and they only believe in opposition, he remarked.
40 vehicles deployed
The city government has deployed 40 vehicles for fumigation drive, which is being carried out round the clock in all towns phase-wise.
According to a city government statement issued on Sunday, the drive was undertaken on the directives of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.
The spray was initiated from the North Nazimabad Town.
KWSB projects
The Managing-Director of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, Ghulam Arif Khan, has directed the contractor firm responsible for development works in North Karachi and Federal B Area to increase the deployment of machinery and manpower to ensure timely completion of the water and sewerage projects.
During a visit to the project sites on Sunday, Mr Khan directed the KWSB chief engineer to get the ongoing development projects completed at the earliest keeping in view all technical and quality aspects. Besides, he asked the chief engineer to deploy an officer to ensure continuity of work round the clock.
Chief Engineer Tameer-i-Karachi Programme, Mashkoorul Hasnain, Chief Engineer (Zone-III) Qutub Shaikh, representatives of the contractor and other officers were also present.—PPI/APP