On special request of Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the launch of the two-phase cleanliness campaign. The first phase will include de-silting of all the major storm-water drains prior to Eidul Azha. Clearing of stocked up garbage elsewhere in the city will be carried out in the second and final phase.
Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Ali Haidar Zaidi and Mayor Waseem Akhtar launched the drive at a ceremony held at the KPT head office. People from different walks of life, including sportsmen, actors, civil society, artists, business community, private companies, etc, largely laud the Centre's move. But, PPP-led Sindh government, which is the key stakeholder of Karachi, seems least-interested in the drive, apparently, for political reasons.
The cold Sindh government relations with Centre continues to remain tense, partly, because of campaign by PTI's MNA Alamgir Khan against Sindh government over the issue of solid waste management in Karachi, last week. Ongoing NAB actions against the PPP leadership for alleged corruption may also be a reason for tense ties.
However, critics accuse Sindh government of having deteriorated civic and sanitary conditions of this mega city since the latter has been ruling the province for more than decade with a pause due to elections under caretakers.
The Sindh government is also slammed for ugly face of the city because it holds financial and administrative powers of key revenue departments of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and particularly of Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), Sindh Building Control Authority, Transport Department, etc.
Recent downpour also exposed performance of the provincial government as almost all thoroughfares in Karachi inundated due to rainwater whereas clogged and encroached drains diverted filthy water towards surrounding neighbourhood causing immense hardships for the rain-hit Karachiites.
"We want clean Karachi to prove that it is possible to clean this city," Ali Zaidi said. He further said Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) would provide machinery and other assistance. National Logistic Cell (NLC) would also support in this connection. "Let us bring [the waste] to zero and then you can maintain it. Send less money to Dubai and maintain the city," Zaidi said in a veiled taunt at the PPP-led Sindh government.
At least 15,000 volunteers would register with the campaign shortly and they would be divided into district-level groups after which work would be done by two teams. He alleged that the amount collected in taxes from Karachi was transferred to Dubai last year which was the reason that this money was not seen spent in Karachi and rest of Sindh.
"We are determined and moving with a very positive approach. I am thankful to Karachi Mayor and our [PTI] MPAs and MNAs, who have assured their full support and are all set to achieve the target," he said, citing that he watched a news channel [report] that a Sindh minister was saying that he would contact me to extend his support. But no such thing has happened yet, Ali Zaidi lamented.
Mayor Waseem Akhtar said they had sough federal cooperation due to lack of cooperation from Sindh government as they had no other option.
"I was fed up," he said adding that he had written a letter to Zaidi regarding the matter. He thanked the federal minister and the PM for the Clean Karachi campaign. He said with current powers and resources, he cannot solve the problems of Karachi. Instead of doing politics, we have to work now, he urged.
The cricket star Waseem Akram took to twitter: "It's going to take more than 2 weeks to clean Karachi, but what a fantastic initiative by @AliHZaidiPTI."
Federal Minister and convener of MQM Pakistan Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Deputy Mayor Karachi Syed Arshad Hasan and Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi, MPAs and MNAs from Karachi, social workers, members of civil society, players, artists and others were also present at the ceremony.