KARACHI - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the heatwave deaths and urged provincial government to take those to task who shirked from their responsibilities in the critical time.
Chairing a meeting on recent intense heatwave in Karachi and the resulting casualties at the CM House here Wednesday, the Premier said the whole country sympathises with the affected people in this hour of grief.
He said casualties at this much scale because of simmering heat was unprecedented in the history of Pakistan but urged the authorities concerned to hold accountable those whose irresponsible conduct contributed to magnifying the public misery.
The prime minister said lessons should be learnt from such calamities and measures be taken to minimise loss in future. He appreciated the role played by private welfare associations in providing help to the people.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who received Nawaz Sharif and his team at the airport, thanked the prime minister for taking personal interest in matters of the province. He briefed the PM on the crisis that hit the metropolitan city on the 19th of last month, causing hundreds of casualties. He also informed the Premier about the relief activities and remedial measures taken by the provincial government in its aftermath.
Prime Minister Nawaz was informed that more than 65,000 patients were reported in Karachi hospitals during this period, out of which about 1,250 lost their lives. Most of those who died were shelter-less people, including beggars, whose dehydration was aggravated due to fasting in extreme weather.
Matters related to law and order situation were also discussed in the meeting which was also participated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan; federal ministers Nisar Ali Khan (Interior), Mushahidullah Khan (Climate Change), Pervaiz Rasheed (Information), Lt-Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch (SAFRON); federal State Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar; NDMA chairman; and members of the Sindh cabinet.
CM Shah complained that the funds to maintain law and order in the province are granted with a delay by the federation. The provincial government also voiced list of complaints regarding development projects in the province in the meeting. The PM formed a committee to pay heed to the provincial government’s reservations.
Sindh chief secretary briefed the prime minister on the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme under which 260 MGD (million gallons per day) water would be brought from Kinjhar Lake to Karachi, to cater to present and future needs of the mega city. The project would be completed in three phases.
PM Nawaz directed that a monitoring committee comprising federal and provincial government officials be set up to ensure efficiency and transparency in its execution. Federal government would share the project cost with the provincial government, he said.
Nawaz Sharif was briefed on yellow, green and red line bus service. The 17.8km Green Line bus rapid transit system would have 21 stations and provide transportation to 300,000 passengers per day. It would integrate with Karachi’s master transportation plan.
The projected is being funded by the federal government. An amount of Rs8 billion has already been released by the federal government for the project. The PM told CM Qaim Ali Shah that Rs8 billion have been granted for the project. The CM, however, said that Rs16 billion are required for the project.
He further said that the federation reserved insufficient amount for the purpose last year. On the occasion, Sindh Chief Secretary briefed the PM on K4 project. Nawaz issued directives to authorities concerned to finalise discussion regarding the matter within four months.
The committee formed by the PM for addressing issues of the province comprises of federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Abdul Qadir Baloch, and provincial Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah. The committee will send a report to the PM after monitoring development projects by the federation.
Earlier, in their one-on-one meeting, Qaim complained to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about poor performance of the K-Electric. He also informed the prime minister that there was 18-20 hours loadshedding in Sindh because of power shortage.
Prime Minister Nawaz also met with representatives of private welfare associations at the CM House and discussed their philanthropic activities. The PM was appreciative of their services to the humanity and selfless work to mitigate the sufferings of the people. He urged the philanthropists to help these organisations through their donations to reach out to the poorest of the poor.
Those who met the Prime Minister included Dr Abdul Bari (Indus Hospital), Ramzan Cheepa of Cheepa Trust, Faisal Edhi of Edhi Foundation, Shakeel Dehlvi of Alamgir Trust, Yousuf of Sailani Welfare Trust and Dr Ghaffar Billoo of HANDS.