Daily Times

KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while referring to the ongoing dispute between K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), said on Friday that the federal government seemed unwilling to resolve the issue because it didn’t care about the people of Karachi.

He added, “It is clear that they [the federal government] don’t want to see the industries running smoothly in this city.”

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 15th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition at Karachi Expo Centre on Friday, the CM demanded that if the federal government was unable to control the SSGC and K-Electric, the board of directors and management of both entities should immediately be handed over to the provincial government. “Federal government can keep their shares and profits from these entities but Sindh government should be given representation in the boards of both companies and the management must also be handed over to us. Then, we will make sure that SSGC and K-Electric take steps in the interest of Karachi’ites,” he said.

Commenting further, the CM said he had written two letters to the Prime Minister and personally spoke to him at least six times but to no avail. “The Prime Minister, during our conversation last Sunday, informed that a meeting has been called to resolve the issue but unfortunately that meeting also failed to provide any kind of relief.”

He maintained that the federal government, despite having 24 percent stake in K-Electric and 73 percent in SSGC, was unable to resolve the issue which was worrisome for Sindh. “We have no share at all in both these entities. We have been demanding representation in K-Electric and SSGC as the problem is being suffered by the people of Karachi and Sindh.”

Shah said, “Prime Minister and Advisor for Finance are busy in foreign tours which is the only thing that matters to them. If they cannot do anything, both these companies should be handed over to us and we will rectify them. We don’t have the capacity to completely take over these companies and it is also not our legal right, but Sindh government should be given some authority so that these companies could be forced to do work. The industry and citizens should not suffer because of the ongoing conflict.”

“The people and industrialists of Karachi are very resilient which is not acceptable to the federal government. Hence, they continue to create problems and this dispute between K-Electric and SSGC is part of another conspiracy.”

The CM said that he will walk out of the forthcoming CCI and NEC meetings next week if the electricity crisis stood unresolved by that time.

He further shared that the federal government was using the FIA to force SSGC to refrain from providing gas. It is a matter of concern that FIA is being used to deprive the people of Karachi from electricity.

Endorsing Siraj Teli’s suggestion pertaining to police reforms, Murad Ali Shah said that it is ultimately going to be the responsibility of police to maintain law and order in the city as Rangers will not remain deployed forever. Hence, he said, efforts are being made by Sindh to improve policing not only in Karachi but all across the province through reforms.

The CM congratulated Businessmen Group and Karachi Chamber for holding My Karachi Exhibition every year without any break since 2004. “You never lost hope in the vibrancy of Karachi. You know the strength of Karachi and you worked dedicatedly to ensure that this exhibition continues to take place which has resulted in promoting the positive image of Karachi,” he said.

KCCI former president Siraj Kassam Teli, in his remarks, appreciated the Chief Minister and the Minister for Industries for their support and cooperation constantly being extended to the My Karachi Exhibition. “Sindh government has been constantly supporting this exhibition since 2004 which we acknowledge and appreciate,” he said.

Highlighting the journey of My Karachi Exhibition, he said that all BMGIANs have been making extraordinary efforts to make My Karachi Exhibition successful and today, KCCI was proudly celebrating 15th sequel of this event which has become a symbol of success for Businessmen Group and Karachi Chamber.

He said that around 1 million visitors attend this exhibition in which trade is being promoted through business-to-business meetings and a wide range of Pakistani products are also displayed along with the international participation. “The vision is to highlight the vibrancy of Karachi. The industrialists of Karachi have been facing many difficulties at all levels including federal, provincial and local governments but this has never discouraged us and we always strive hard to do something good for this city,” he added.

Referring to the hardships of industrialists of Site Area, Siraj Teli said that the infrastructure in the area is in poor shape. Although commitments have been made but not much has been done to provide relief to industrialists, he said.

Referring to recent funding released by the provincial government for development projects in four industrial zones of Karachi, he said that these zones received funds during Musharraf’s era and received more funds twice during PPP government’s tenure, whereas the biggest industrial zone in Site area has been neglected. “I am not against funding to other industrial zones but every industrial zone of this city has to be treated equally,” he said.

Hailing the efforts being made by the Water Commission, the BMG chairman said that the commission was doing a good job in dealing with bureaucrats who simply didn’t want to work. “In order to hide its own thefts of up to billions of rupees, the KWSB misguides the Water Commission by accusing the industrialists of water theft, which is not factually correct at all. The industrialists mostly use sub-soil water and they hardly use KWSB water.”

In order to find out the reality, Siraj Teli advised the Chief Minister to completely shut down KWSB water supplies to all the industrial zones for the next six to 10 days. He said this would show that 80 percent of industries would continue to operate during these days as their production depended on sub-soil water only.

Siraj Teli further requested Chief Minister to hold a meeting with KCCI’s delegation next week so that issues being suffered by the industrialists could be discussed in detail and the same could be amicably resolved.

Appreciating the development work being carried out by the government to improve the infrastructure of the city, Teli stressed the need to do more keeping in view the size and huge population of this city.

Stressing the need to build capacity of police and other law enforcement agencies, he suggested that police and LEAs should be made capable enough to effectively control the situation when Rangers leave the city otherwise all efforts made to restore peace in Karachi will go wasted and the city will once again plunge into serious lawlessness.

Earlier, KCCI president Muffasar Atta Malik, in his welcome address, said that the Karachi Chamber initiated this exhibition in 2004 and with the passage of time, this exhibition has substantially grown from just three halls to all six halls of the expo center. He also paid glowing tribute of Pakistan Rangers Sindh, Police and LEAs for restoring peace in Karachi and extending full support to My Karachi Exhibition.

Published in Daily Times, April 21^st 2018.