He said that Solid Waste Management and DMCs were not answerable to the Mayor and he has raising voice at every forum to get the due respect of the city's representatives in local government restored. He said only 12 percent of Karachi comes under his authority while the rest is administrated by cantonment boards and other departments. Sewerage system of the city has completely collapsed, he added.
While responding to the concerns shown by industrialists at the meeting, Waseem Akhtar said until the Article 140-A of the Constitution is not implemented, issues facing Karachi would not be resolved. He said Karachi pays for the country's budget. PM Khan was going abroad frequently to secure economic assistance. He should come to Karachi and consider the concerns of industries in the city. It would be beneficial to the country's economy, he maintained.
Akhtar said KMC has nothing to do with charged parking of DMCs. He demanded of the PM to announce special development package for Karachi. He said that population figures of the city after the recent census were ridiculous; if this issue is not addressed, certain CPEC projects could face planning issues.
He added that all the three largest parties of the country were busy in blame game and lashing out at each other while the common man suffers. He urged the business community of Karachi to raise its voice in the best interest of the city and the country and advocate their rights with a sense of ownership to Karachi.
KATI President Danish Khan briefed that Mayor about economic importance and industrial production of Korangi Industrial Area (KIA). Danish said PM Khan emphasizes on enhancement of exports and industrialization but until the industry faces basic infrastructure and energy problems, this ambition couldn't be fulfilled.
He said the business community was well aware of the problems being faced by the Mayor. The business community appreciates his (Mayor's) efforts for the city's betterment . Head of KATI's Standing Committee on Local government and Chairman & CEO of KITE, Zubair Chhaya said industrialist of the area spend millions of rupees on the beatification of roads, green belts and roundabouts of the KIA. He added that now the DMC is demanding Rs2,000 per vehicle per month, which isn't acceptable to us.
He said Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah has released Rs1 billion for the development of the area and reconstruction and maintenance work is under way.