KARACHI: Senior leader Pakistan Peoples’ Party and former Petroleum Minister shed light on development projects in District Central during a press conference held at Karachi Press Club here yesterday.

Addressing to media persons, Dr Asim highlighted different development schemes and projects successfully completed in District Central Karachi besides in-hand public welfare projects in district. “ I earlier said that this is public service and social work not political. Whoever party comes after winning Local Body polls will be fully welcomed to take over ongoing projects and keep these projects continue aiming for welfare of district and its people”, former minister said.

Dr Asim said that with concerted paper work and proper planning along with sincere intentions, we want to set a criteria that will become paradigm for all and we are just highlighting discrepancies and incongruities which happened in past years”. He said that as this criteria rightly defines extent of projects and work to which things could be done successfully in past also but now better late than never, it can be continued with right direction.  He said, “We are not against any party and want to work in proximity in order to bring fruitful changes in civic facilities for dwellers of District Central”. PPP leader while giving his notion on massive anti-encroachment operation drive that took place in Mujahid Colony area in Central District said that affected people will either get lands available with government or will be compensated financially. He further said that ongoing projects not falls under direct domain of District Central rather different organisations are involved in multiple projects including firms under public-private partnership, World Bank, Click, KDA, KMC. Whether it is about revamping of educational institutions, parks and playgrounds, clinics or any such similar initiatives funds are not received by District Central as they are under hold and control of respective executing agencies.

He also said that whenever annual development budget is planned, funds allocation is earmarked for different projects. What we do is we start lobbying and let us say if KMC has Rs 100 million, we try to convince that such amount should be equally divided on basis of population in district and whatever share comes to district central we focus only on getting that amount for development works. PPP leader said that we are not raising any unfair demands, these are government’s funds which are being allocated across all districts in Karachi and we are concentrating only on our chunk of funds that will come to District Central.  “We have demanded actual share of our district in light to proportion of populace which is our prerogative, not any unjustified or irrational demand as I belives we all are friends and must need to work with cohesion for betterment of Karachi, Dr Asim added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 07 2023

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