ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed said on Wednesday that the centre was committed to reviving glory of Karachi.

“We have decided to revive the charm of the country’s commercial hub as the Sindh government has failed to address basic problems of not only in Karachi but the entire province,” the minister said in a press conference held apparently in response to a press conference of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Karachi Transformation Plan (KTP) recently announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

He held the leadership of PPP responsible for present Karachi situation and said they have been ruling in Sindh for over 35 years but did nothing to resolve basic problems of the metropolis.

Mr Saeed said the federal government was making all out efforts to work with the provincial government for resolving the problems being faced by the Karachiites. “Karachi is facing crisis of governance as the financial hub of the country was ignored in the past,” he added.

The PPP, he said, was responsible for the flood situation in the city, adding that Bilawal had politicised every issue.

The prime minister, he said, had announced biggest package in the history of Karachi which reflected the intention of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to revive the colour of Karachi.

He alleged that the PPP had indulged in corruption in purchase of wheat, medicines, schools furniture and tents at a time when Sindh was facing a crisis.

About the Tosha Khana case against PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, he said whoever committed corruption would have to face the law of land.

Communication minister said that Bilawal Bhutto had believed the country would face huge human as well as financial losses during Covid-19 pandemic, however, the smart lockdown strategy of the prime minister has not only saved lives but revived economy.

He questioned Bilawal to let the nation know that what ration he (Bilawal) had distributed during the Covid-19 crisis.

Responding to the Bilawal’s speech regarding the National Disaster Management Authority, he said that the authority would clean all nullahs in the province, not only three nullahs as claimed by Bilawal.

He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government quickly responded after floods in the province without seeking any federal government help. On the contrary, the Sindh government was demanding funds from centre to provide relief to flood victims.

Replying to a question about Peshawar Mor to New Airport Metro Bus Infrastructure project, he said the civil works of the project had been completed and the bus would start running within three month. “Electronic elevators, which could not come from China due to Covid-19 situation, are coming for metro bus project,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2020