He said that 60 percent and 30 percent of land in Karachi is under the control of federal government and Sindh government, respectively whereas only 10 percent is under his domain. Speaking at a meeting of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Waseem said no one owned Karachi and the people are become hopeless. They have hopes with the business community and industrialists to use their influence on the provincial and federal government for resolution of Karachi problems. No country or city could progress unless making third tier government powerful. KMC should get a certain percentage from the import taxes, he added.
The Mayor disclosed that most of the land at Shahrah-e-Faisal has been encroached by the influential people. In this respect he gave example of shopping mall which is built on a sewerage scheme plot. He elaborated that he is responsible for the construction and maintenance of Karachi's 109 roads, underpass, flyovers, pedestrian bridges but infrastructure cess and toll-tax, etc, collected from transportation of goods to and from two ports of Karachi to and from upcountry is not given to Karachi.
Referring to the 'false' propaganda made on media about allocation/sanctioning of huge funds he clarified that last year Karachi was paid only 2.5 billion rupees out of sanctioned amount of Rs. 5 billion. He added that more than 50 percent of the funds are spent on payment of salary and pension and there is a short fall of Rs. 80 million on account of salaries. He disclosed that no master-plan is prepared for the development of infrastructure and civic amenity facilities.
The Mayor, appreciating the business community of Sialkot for the construction of a dry port and initiating an airport urged the trade and industry of Karachi to come forward for the development of Karachi. He urged leader of business community S.M. Muneer to lead a delegation to Islamabad to fight the case of Karachi. "The KMC cannot be effectively run on the gate money of Gandhi-Garden," he concluded.
He said the Governor House received one billion rupees for the fire brigade two months ago however no further action has been taken. He said garbage was a big issue in the city and we are fully cooperating in the cleanliness drive initiated by the chief minister. He said the local revenues were withheld by the Sindh government or given to the districts. The Prime Minister had promised to give Rs25 billion package for Karachi and since then six months have passed, and now this should be implemented without further delay.
FPCCI President Engr Daroo Khan Achakzai in his address of welcome invited the attention of the Mayor towards the problem being faced by the Karachiites in the ambit of infrastructure, roads, water, sewerage, health, education, etc, piles of garbage, fire brigade, traffic jam and public transport. Former FPCCI President S M Muneer invited the attention of the Mayor towards the problems faced by the Town Associations of Trade and Industry of Karachi mainly due to shortage/unavailability of water, flourishing of tanker mafia, dilapidated condition of roads, garbage piles, over-flowing of sewerage lines etc. He on behalf of the business community of Karachi assured the Mayor of his full support and cooperation in Mayor's efforts for resolution of Karachi issues and problems.