PM Imran has devised a plan for Karachi, says Governor Ismail

Governor Sindh Imran Ismail on Tuesday said that to mitigate the infrastructural and urban flooding issues in Karachi, Prime Minister Imran Khan has devised a plan which will be shared with all the major stakeholders on his visit to the city.

The governor, flanked by Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, held a press conference in Karachi to address the pressing issues of the country, particularly the woes of the financial capital of Pakistan.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan finalised a plan for Karachi in yesterday's meeting,” said the Sindh governor, adding that once all the stakeholders are on board, the premier will visit the city.

The Sindh governor said that whatever the federal government is doing is based on the divisions underlined by the National Finance Commission Award to provinces.

He said that an administrator for Karachi will be appointed after consultation with all stakeholders and the final say will rest with the Sindh government.

He said the Centre is cooperating with the Sindh government to resolve the issues in the province.

Ismail said that a working committee, comprising Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and Sindh information minister Nasir Hussain Shah, has been established to devise a solution to end Karachi’s problems.

The governor said more devastation occurred in other parts of Sindh than in Karachi due to the rains.

“We all are sensitive about Karachi because it is the central financial hub," he said, adding that the federation wants to help the province.

He went on to say that it was the right of DHA residents to protest against the destruction caused due to rain, adding that he was fully aware of their plight.

“But we also need to understand that these are record-breaking rains and even if we did not have any infrastructural loopholes, the devastation would still happen.”

The Sindh governor said that he will visit Badin tomorrow with the Punjab governor as rains have wreaked great havoc in interior Sindh.

Governor Punjab Sarwar, addressing the briefing, said that he has come to Karachi to express solidarity with the people of Sindh.

He said an assessment regarding the damage to infrastructure will be made and compensations made accordingly.

"The people of Sindh are our brothers and sisters. We are with them in their hour of need," the Punjab governor said.

Ismail said that Sarwar will distribute 100,000 ration bags among the needy in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. The bags will have food supplies to last a month.

He added that with the help of Akhuwat Foundation 10,000 people will be provided interest-free loans.