KARACHI: City administrator and provincial government’s spokesman Barrister Murtaza Wahab said on Sunday that his aim was the restoration of the city and vowed to bring about a ‘basic change’ in its municipal infrastructure.

       “I will not talk about the past, I am only thinking of the future and a basic change will come soon,” he said, adding that the provincial government was building a great recreation area for the citizens on the shores of Manora which would be completed within the next six months.

       The administrator said this while talking to the media during his visits to Manora, Sandspit, Gulbai and other areas of Keamari district. He was accompanied by Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Asif Jan and other officials.

       During his visit to Sandspit Road, Mr Wahab said that the road was earlier in a dilapidated state. He said that night travel in the area was now no longer a problem, adding that robberies, which were a big menace, had been controlled considerably. “The Sindh chief minister has issued orders to eradicate street crimes,” he added.

       Barrister Wahab said 90 per cent construction of Mauripur Road had also been completed which would provide more convenience to the citizens.

       He said the help of citizens and government agencies was also necessary for the betterment of the city. “The local government minister is my elder brother and we work together for the betterment of the people,” he said.

       He asked political parties to assist the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for the betterment of Karachi. “Let’s work together to serve the citizens,” he said.

       Earlier, the administrator during his visit to Keamari district reviewed the ongoing development works at the Gulbai junction.

       In Manora, Barrister Wahab said that the recreational place in here would be on a high spot where small restaurants would be set up so that the citizens could enjoy food. “Other facilities including ramps will also be available,” he added.

       Uplift project in Malir

       The administrator said that the provincial government was executing a development project in Malir district which would provide the best facilities to the citizens as it would be linked with M9, the Superhighway.

       He expressed these views while revi-ewing the ongoing development works in the district.

       Murtaza Wahab said that the length of the road being built under this project was 8.8 kilometres. “In this project, a bridge will also be constructed which will cross the Malir river,” he added.

       He said the journey to Malir district, Malir Cantt, Karachi airport and Sharea Faisal would be much easier after the completion of the project, adding that the project would be completed within two months.

       The administrator said the project was aimed at carrying forward the spirit of Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to serve Karachi. “PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s mission is to provide relief to the people and we will accomplish this mission in any case,” he added.

       He said construction projects were under way in different areas of Karachi under the provincial government and some of them were being supervised by him. “Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah is leading the entire team. After the completion of these development projects, the citizens will see a significant change in Karachi,” he said.

       He said that every possible effort would be made to improve the local body services and better local government facilities would be provided to the citizens. The administrator said that concrete steps were being taken to solve the four major problems of the city — water, sewerage, sanitation and transport.

       He said it was his responsibility to serve the city and uplift the city with parks, playgrounds, roads, streetlights and other facilities. “I have asked the various departments of the KMC to submit their own plans for the next 30 days so that better steps can be taken in a short period,” he said.

       The administrator said that the problems of Malir district would be solved so that the residents of this district also got the facilities that other districts of Karachi had.

       He said the city’s municipal administration was trying to provide a healthy environment and recreational facilities to the people of the city.

       Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2021