The general meeting of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Council was held on Friday at the City Council Hall under the chairmanship of Deputy Mayor Karachi, Salman Abdullah Murad. A total of 20 resolutions were approved during the meeting, of which 8 were passed unanimously, 12 by majority vote, while one resolution was deferred until the next meeting.
According to details, at the beginning, a condolence resolution was presented on the passing of former Speaker of the Sindh Assembly and senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Agha Siraj Durrani. The Council expressed deep grief and sorrow, praying that Allah Almighty grant the deceased a high place in Jannat-ul-Firdaus and give patience to his bereaved family. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Jaman Durrani said that Agha Siraj Durrani was a courageous and sincere leader who always practiced principled politics and played an important role in strengthening democracy while serving in various parliamentary positions.
The next resolution, passed unanimously, strongly condemned India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir and expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people. The resolution urged the international community to resolve the Kashmir issue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. Parliamentary Leader Karamullah Waqasi and Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate said that October 27 was the darkest day when India occupied Kashmir by force. They added that the people of Pakistan stand with Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom, and the entire nation maintains a united stance on the Kashmir issue. Another resolution, approved by majority vote, concerned the addition of 50 acres of land and a revised layout plan for the Zulfiqarabad Oil Tankers Parking Terminal. Farooq Khaskheli, Najmi Alam, Murad Muhammad, and other members spoke about the importance and utility of the project for the city.
Among other resolutions passed by majority vote, the Council approved recommendations related to KMC’s Department of State and Accommodation by-laws. The Council also approved naming the underpass at Golimar Chowrangi after the late Qadir Bakhsh Bakkak in recognition of his valuable services to local governance, naming the Lyari Family Park after the martyred PPP leader Waja Kareem Dad, and launching a citywide tree plantation campaign in all roads, parks, schools, hospitals, and recreational areas to control environmental pollution.
Through a unanimously approved resolution, the Council granted approval for establishing a bus depot named “KMC General Bus Stand” on Plot No. 108, Sheet No. K-28, Manghopir Road (Gutter Baghicha) and entrusted its operation, maintenance, and upkeep for 10 years to “The Silk Route Transport Company.” Another unanimously passed resolution approved granting Plot No. ST-13, Sector 15/16 (Gulistan-e-Mazdoor) to The Citizens Foundation on an annual lease for the construction and operation of a primary and secondary school for purely educational purposes.
Other resolutions passed by majority vote included the approval of the improvement/restoration plan for Jehangir Road, the rehabilitation of the stormwater drain from Guru Mandir to Teen Hatti, the construction of the Natha Khan Bridge Grade & Link Road from Shahrah-e-Faisal to Habib University, land utilization plans for Khaleelabad and Bilalabad, the upgradation of posts of Chief Fire Officer, Team Leader/Commander, and Deputy Chief Fire Officer in the KMC Fire Brigade and USAR Department, and recommendations for upgrading operational staff positions in the Fire Brigade Department. A resolution was also passed to name the Karimabad Underpass as “Dr. Asim Hussain Underpass” in recognition of his personal interest and efforts in the project, and to invite Dr. Asim Hussain or his representative to the inauguration ceremony to publicly acknowledge his contributions. Similarly, the overhead bridge on Khalid Bin Waleed Road was approved to be named after the late Muhammad Umar Jat, former PPP District Malir President and former Nazim of Bin Qasim Town.
Additionally, three more resolutions were passed unanimously. One called upon the government to bring Kiran Hospital Road and SUPARCO Road under the administrative control of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to address public complaints arising due to the Red Line project on University Road and to ensure proper maintenance of these roads. It was also agreed to name Kiran Hospital Road after Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the benefactor of Pakistan. Another resolution expressed strong reservations over heavy fines imposed through e-challan for traffic rule violations in Karachi and demanded that the Sindh government withdraw the notification. The other resolution strongly condemned the arrest and false FIR against UC Chairman Nauman Hameed for participating in a public protest against prolonged load shedding and demanded departmental and legal action against the responsible police officers. Those who spoke during the session included Nauman Ilyas, PTI Parliamentary Leader Mubashir Ahmed, Saad Ahmed, Najmi Alam, Junaid Makati, Munir Khattak, Moosa Mengal, and others.