February 01, 2016
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Former Provincial Minister of Information Technology and First Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel (BMP) of FPCCI, Mian Zahid Hussain has demanded immediate formation of local governments and urged to Localize necessary entities by empowering elected members of local bodies. He said that power transfer will not only create sense of ownership but it will also help to end crisis-like situation in different sectors i.e. water supply & sewerage, solid waste management, road management etc.
In cleanliness initiatives, participation of public is always laudable but prime responsibility still lies with government, he stated while appreciating self-help garbage disposal activity organized by The National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) and Bohra community. He stated that almost every area of the metropolitan faces some sewerage-related issue but the worst condition is at Brooks roundabout of Korangi Industrial Area, Sadar, New Karachi, Old Golimar, Lyari, MA Jinnah Road and Main University Road. Often, sewerage water gets mixed with supply lines of drinking water causing the gastroenteritis diseases, he added.
Mian Zahid Hussain stated that if nothing changes, the mayors of Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkana, and chairmen of district municipal corporations can’t even manage garbage collection independently, any other important civic issue is far beyond. In 2014, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board was established and responsibility of cleanliness of cities and towns were assigned to it but, worst conditions of sanitation questioned its establishment. He opined that for good governance, Sindh Govt. should delegate the chairmanship of Solid Waste Management Board, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, Karachi Development Authority and Sindh Building Control Authority to local bodies.
Mian Zahid Hussain stated that during the Musharraf’s government in 2001, after the announcement of the new local bodies system the city was divided into 18 towns under the administrative control of the City District Government, Karachi and the District Council Karachi was abolished, which was formed during the Ayub Khan regime in 1960s.
Mian Zahid Hussain stated that Business Community of Karachi, the city that contributes 61.49% of direct taxes and 62.79% of indirect taxes, is very hopeful from 1,437 newly sworn elected members of the local government. He stated that Business Community of Pakistan is very hopeful that financial capital of the country will start its progress again after five years, followed by official commencement of tenure of Mayor of Karachi. He stated that the development journey of Karachi lost its momentum, when Mustafa Kamal, most dynamic and articulate mayor, completed his tenure.
