KARACHI - Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhter has lamented that the elected representatives are not given the powers despite people’s expectations from them to serve the city.
“We are now determined that we will continue the journey to progress with our spirit and passion; with or without having resources,” he said, and added, “We are all on one page when it comes to finding solutions to the problems of Karachi.”
He further said, “We do not need any opposition because this city belongs to all of us, and we all want to serve this city. Being the mayor of city, I want to carry out development works in all the areas of Karachi.”
He expressed these views while talking to media men after meeting with PTI leadership at Insaf House in Karachi on Wednesday.
PTI leader Imran Ismail, Khurram Sher Zaman, Shamim Naqvi, Jamal Siddiqui, Aziz Afridi and others, including parliamentary leader in the city council Aslam Afridi and chairman of DMC East Moeed Anwer were also present on the occasion.
Before this the mayor was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival at the Insaf House.
Wasim called it a good omen that people from other parties also wanted solution to city’s problems like the MQM-Pakistan. “We all are on one page as far as progress of the city is concerned,” Wasim said enthusiastically.
He expressed the desire that there should not be any opposition in the city council, “We all gather under its umbrella to resolve city’s problems,” he added.
He said Karachi was a big city with around 30 million population, and having a lot of problems.
He again requested the federal and provincial governments to announce large packages for Karachi and take advantage of his team.
Earlier PTI leader Firdaus Shamim Naqvi, while welcoming the mayor, said, “We are with the mayor Karachi for solution to Karachi’s problems and announce full support to him.”
He further said that conditions in Karachi were not good as problems were increasing day by day and situation getting out of control.
He said the local government system should be made strong, adding, “We want the local government representatives to get all the required powers and authority.”
He also appreciated the 100-day cleanliness campaign announced by the Karachi mayor, and expressed the hope that this would yield positive results and gradually reach all union councils.
He also appealed to the government to provide funds to Karachi city so that it could again become the city of lights.
Imran Ismail said today’s meeting would be remembered as a milestone in the history of Karachi, as we have gathered to discuss only one-point agenda, which is to get this city rid of problems.
“We are ready to provide all sorts of cooperation for peace and prosperity in Karachi,” he said emphatically.
Khurram Sher Zaman said the city problems could not be solved without giving powers to the mayor of Karchi.