Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, in an interview with Aaj News that was aired Saturday, said that the Sindh government blatantly sabotage efforts to develop Karachi because it has no interest in developing a city without a voter base.
Such a government (PPP) has no interest in resolving Karachi’s problems except theft and looting. Sindh corruption has broken all records. There are cases against all leaders of Sindh,“ he told Rana Mubashir of Aaj News and Ali Khizar of the Business Recorder who interviewed him Friday about the elections, the economy and a myriad of other issues including when he would like elections.
The former prime minister was quizzed over his government’s performance in Karachi, where he received 850,000 votes. Ali Khizer pointed out that the residents were disappointed with the PTI your government over its failure to improve the city. “Industrial growth begins from the coast but after industries moved to upcountry areas in 1990s, the infrastructure was not created in Karachi,” he said adding that the city residents felt bitter after putting their hopes in him.
Imran blamed the lack of development on the Sindh government, saying that they were the hurdles in the implementation of the Sindh Development Plan and Karachi Revival Plan.
“After the 18th amendment, all powers were devolved to provinces. We were not power in Sindh but still we gave it money,” he said referring to the Rs1.1 trillion development package that was unveiled with great fanfare in September 2020.
“We made an excellent plan for Bundal Island and a consortium of foreign countries was ready to transform it into a new city. We even received an NOC of Sindh.”
He said that the NOC was cancelled at the last minute. “Billions of dollars would have been earned by Sindh due to this and all this money could have entered the current account. Sindh government sabotaged it,” he said.
What the PTI chief failed to mention was that the federal government, led by the president, promulgated an ordinance while keeping parliament out of the loop. It led to a fierce response from the Sindh government that termed efforts to develop the island, that it claimed its property, without the provincial cabinet’s approval as unconstitutional.
The development of the island would also result in major ecological impact, including the mangroves that give cover to shellfish and marine life and is a source of livelihood for local fisherfolk.
“The way Karachi is expanding unplanned, you cannot provide facilities to it,” said Imran.
Ali Khizar pointed out the deteriorating situation of the Kemari port from where two-thirds of the country’s oil enters. “If an accident takes place in Kemari, oil wont reach upcountry. This is a security risk. Why did you not work on it?”
Imran said that the question should be posed to the maritime minister during his time, Ali Zaidi. “It’s unfair that he was not allowed to explain himself. He published documents on it.”
