ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday assured a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) that the promises made with them by Nawaz Sharif would be fulfilled.
Talking to a delegation of MQM-P headed by Dr Farooq Sattar at the PM Office, Abbasi said Karachi was the economic hub of Pakistan and that it was a collective target to make the city of lights the centre of peace and prosperity. He said the government had approved a development package for Karachi and funds would be released by the end of the ongoing month.
The MQM delegation complained about non-cooperation of Sindh government with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which, according to them, was not only affecting the performance of the civic body but also mitigating problems of the dwellers of the city.
The prime minister said the government respected all sorts of elected democratic institutions as the local bodies had a vital role in the uplift of the country. He said the provincial government’s attention would be drawn in this connection as people’s participation was a must for continuity of democracy.
Abbasi directed the interior minister to review the MQM-P’s complaints about the arbitrary arrests of its activists and ensure that these cases were dealt with in a fair manner.
The premier and the MQM-P also agreed to set aside differences and work jointly to strengthen democracy in the country.
The meeting reviewed the PM’s development package for Karachi and Hyderabad and decided that release of funds for the gigantic project would be ensured in the current year.
It was decided that PM Abbasi would lay the foundation stone of Hyderabad University next month.
Published in Daily Times, October 19th 2017.
