Businessmen hopeful for Karachi after meeting army chief

KARACHI: Leaders of the business community have expressed hope that the dismal issues of Karachi, that have increased with the recent torrential rains, will be resolved after a meeting with Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The army chief is in Karachi for a two-day long visit.

Speaking in Geo News programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath", President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, Mian Zahid Hussain, said: "Not only had the rains shattered records but the institutions had also broken records of incompetence."

Zahid said that the businessmen had informed the army chief about the situation of the metropolis.

"The body language [of the army chief] and the way we were told about the work being carried out, I am hopeful that Karachi's problems will be resolved," Zahid said, noting that all the relevant institutions were working to overcome the problems in Karachi.

'Infrastructure completely destroyed'

Meanwhile, Chairperson Karachi Chamber of Commerce Siraj Kassam Teli said that "no significant assurances" were given to the business community in the meeting.

The top industrialist said that the businessmen had presented Karachi's situation in front of the army chief and that he had already conducted an aerial survey of the city.

"The infrastructure was in a bad state and the rains have completely destroyed it," Teli said, adding that in the city's seven industrial zones, there are 26,000 industries and after the rains, even jeeps cannot pass through the alleys near them.

"We requested him to hand the works over to National Disaster Management Authority and Frontier Works Organization, and through funds from political parties to develop our infrastructure," he said.

Teli said that the army chief told the businessmen that a committee had been formed to resolve the issues and hopefully, through it, a way forward could be devised.

The top industrialist said that every businessman, in the meeting, highlighted their issues, to which the army chief did not directly give any assurance, but he said that the military plays its role and supports political governments.

'Promise' of a 'clear change'

Speaking in the same show, Minister for Information Nasir Hussain Shah said that the coordination and facilitation committee — constituted to resolve Karachi's civic issues — had met and finalised several matters so far.

Shah, speaking on the hindrances in the way of development, said: "The issue is when several institutions get in the way [of progress]", adding that he was hopeful that the government would deliver this time.

Responding to a question regarding Sindh's unfulfilled promises, he said: "A clear change will be visible in the near future [...] The groundbreaking of the red line project will be done this year."

There are several other projects in the pipeline, including those for buses, and the green line project — from the federal government, he said.

Talking about the water issues in the city, he said that along with the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme, also called K-IV, the government was working on other options. "I promise you that a clear change will be seen."

Army chief stresses on 'setting priorities right'

A day earlier, Gen Bajwa had said that the country's issue is not the non-availability of resources but setting priorities right, according to a statement from the military's media wing.

"At no point influence of a particular locality or community should be allowed to shift attention or resources from those in need. It's a national disaster and everyone is in it together," the army chief said.

The army chief reiterated that the military "would not disappoint" people in their time of need.