Daily Times

Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, on Saturday, announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan had granted approval for four mega projects in the metropolis.

While talking to the media, Karachi Mayor said that the transportation system of the city was in dire need of renewal. “Construction of two main arteries and two large bridges has also been approved,” he added. According to Waseem Akhtar, execution of the four mega projects would begin soon.

Mayor Waseem Akhtar also shared that he was expecting something big from PM Khan ahead of his visit to Karachi. PM Khan is expected to come to Karachi today for a two-day visit. He also stated that the PM had shown inclination towards reviewing the issue of census results for Karachi. Waseem Akhtar further informed the media that he had composed a document for contesting Karachi’s case in a meeting scheduled for Sunday (today). Discussing his agenda for the meeting, the mayor said, ‘I will request PM Khan that all the system of the city should come under the mayor. I will also request that funds allocated for the metropolis be reimbursed,” he added. He added that he would also bring up the issue of K-IV water supply project before PM Khan.

Criticising the provincial government, Mayor Waseem said that the Pakistan Peoples Party ruled in Karachi like ‘feudal lords’. He further said that Imran Khan was the only prime minister who was interested in the issues of the metropolis and wanted to resolve them. He told media representatives that the next expansion in the federal cabinet would include a minister from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).

Discussing the education sector, the mayor said that he had requested for special funds for the University of Karachi. He added that he had also requested that a new university be set up in Hyderabad.

Published in Daily Times, September 16^th 2018.