PM Imran extremely concerned for Karachi, says Sindh Governor

Prime Minister Imran Khan is "extremely concerned" for Karachi especially after the recent spell of rain that disrupted life in the city, disturbed him a lot, said Sindh Governor Imran Ismail.

The governor, speaking during the current affairs programme "Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath" on Thursday, said that the worried prime minister and his aides had hammered a comprehensive plan to address the city’s issues.

All the issues of the megacity have been discussed in the Karachi Transformation Plan, he told Geo News.

“The Karachi Transformation Plan was definitely shared with the Sindh government,” he said. “To my understanding [regarding the coordination between the Centre and the provincial government], Asad Umar briefs PM Imran after discussing the plan with all the stakeholders in the province.”

The chief minister Sindh, on the other hand, had said earlier he had no knowledge of the premier's plan or knew about his schedule of the city.  

The governor admitted that it would be an uphill task to implement the transformational package in the city. Governor Ismail said he there was any element or provision in the plan which would be unacceptable to the provincial government.

Ismail hoped that Sindh government would extend its full support to the Centre in implementing the plan for the residents of Karachi.

Talking about PM Imran's upcoming Karachi visit, Ismail said the premier won’t finalise his plan to accommodate Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Rather, he said the chief minister should free up his schedule for the premier's visit to the city.

Replying to a question about whether PM Imran will meet CM Murad, the governor said ‘he thinks’ the meeting will definitely take place between the two leaders.

PM Imran reviews Karachi Transformation Plan

On Thursday, PM Imran reviewed the Karachi plan that promises to address the city’s longstanding infrastructural issues, ahead of his much anticipated visit to the city to announce a financial package.

During the meeting, the prime minister had said that unfortunately the resolution of multiple problems like the provision of clean water, sewerage, solid waste management, cleaning of nullahs and transport has been ignored in the past.

The PM had also said the recent rains have exposed administrative lacunae as well as difficulties for the people of the metropolis of which the federal government is “fully cognisant”.

PM’s Karachi visit plan changed

PM Imran will now visit the rain-hit Karachi on Saturday. The decision regarding the change in his schedule was taken during yesterday’s meeting. He was earlier scheduled to arrive in city on Friday.

CM Sindh addresses press conference

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Thursday that 101 lives had been lost in rains across Sindh — 63 of the victims were from Karachi. Record-breaking 230mm (nine inches) rains flooded the city’s fragile infrastructure and left dozens dead across the province.

The Sindh chief minister had said, “We are improving Karachi’s drainage system.” He said the uncharacteristically heavy rains were the effects of climate change.”

Regarding an administrator for Karachi, Shah said the city will have an administrator who will be appointed by the Sindh government. Whatever happens in Karachi will be in accordance with the Constitution, he added.