Mayor of Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that 2026 will be the year of development, and every promise made to the people during the elections will be fulfilled. Public welfare projects are underway in Keamari, the Old City area, and other parts of the city. Work is progressing rapidly on Shahrah-e-Bhutto, Murghi Khana Bridge, and other major projects, while Shahrah-e-Bhutto from Qayyumabad to Kathore will soon be opened for traffic. This will benefit not only Karachi but also commuters traveling to Multan, Sialkot, Lahore, and Hyderabad.
He said that street lights on three major arteries of Karachi have been shifted to a solar system, including Shahrah-e-Faisal and Shahrah-e-Iran. Under this project, completed at a cost of Rs 900 million, the company installing the solar panels will be responsible for operations and maintenance with a five-year warranty, resulting in an annual saving of approximately Rs 25 million in electricity bills. In the past, street lights used to remain switched off due to K-Electric load shedding, and allegations of failure were leveled against the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation; however, this issue has now been resolved through practical measures.
The mayor stated that Conocarpus trees are neither environment-friendly nor suitable for infrastructure, yet unnecessary controversy is created over their removal. The real need, he emphasized, is the plantation of indigenous trees, which are beneficial for the environment, soil, and public health.
He expressed these views while inaugurating the project to convert Shahrah-e-Faisal street lights to solar energy at a cost of Rs 900 million. On the occasion, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the City Council Dil Muhammad and other elected representatives were also present.
Mayor Wahab said that press conferences, protests, and negative politics do not solve problems. Had press conferences been the solution, he remarked, the city’s issues would have been resolved long ago. He said that Jamaat-e-Islami should compete through practical work instead of conspiracies and hypocrisy.
He added that everyone wants to become a mayor or a minister, but these positions are a crown of thorns-the real test lies in serving the public. Conspiracies have achieved nothing in the past and will achieve nothing in the future; the only path forward is service, tolerance, and practical work. Cities move forward through hard work and public service, not through conflicts and baseless allegations.
The mayor further said that the Pakistan Peoples Party believes in action, not slogans. The party’s vision is to provide facilities to the people of Karachi without discrimination and to continue serving the public in line with the commitments of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is carrying out development works across the city without bias, with the goal of moving forward along with all stakeholders.
He said that Bahadurabad Road has been completed, while improvement works are ongoing at Pakistan Chowk, Shahrah-e-Liaquat, and Sohrab Goth. Work is in progress on the Kareemabad Underpass, and once K-Electric completes its work, the pace of construction will be further accelerated. Sir Shah Suleman Road, Mai Kolachi Road, and other major roads will also be shifted to solar energy.
He said these initiatives are not only environment-friendly but also ensure a reduction in the carbon footprint, savings in energy costs, and sustainable development. He added that durable manhole covers made from fiber and recycled waste are being installed at various locations, including the Karachi Zoo, and after testing, they will be used across the city. Funds have also been provided to all Union Councils in December for the installation of manhole covers.
Concluding, the Mayor of Karachi said that Sindh is the land of Sufis that unites hearts, no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands, and practical work is the only way forward for the betterment of the city.