PPP, imposed mayor become torment for Karachiites, says Naeemur Rehman

PPP, imposed mayor become torment for Karachiites, says Naeemur Rehman
Demands administrative, monetary empowerment for local government
Says more than half city lacks access to clean drinking water, while tanker mafia earns billions
JI supremo inaugurates Health Care Unit, lays foundation stone of Shahrah-e-Naimatullah Khan, opens Youth Center and Family Park

KARACHI: NOVEMBER 3: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said that the provincial government of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the “occuping” mayor have become a torment for Karachiites.
The JI leader expressed these views on Monday while inaugurating a Health Care Unit in Gulberg Town and laying the foundation stone of Shahrah-e-Naimatullah Khan in Azizabad. Earlier on Sunday night, the JI leader also inaugurated a Youth Center and Family Park in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the PPP has been in power for 17 years, holding control over local bodies, powers, and resources, but has shown no willingness to solve the city’s problems or give people their rights.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, seeks a system of empowered local governance, not only in Karachi but also in Larkana, Shikarpur, and Hyderabad.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the launch of only 400 buses in 17 years cannot solve Karachi’s transport crisis. He warned that if the issue of E-challan was not resolved through dialogue, the party would have no option but to resort to protest.
He said health is a basic necessity, and the establishment of a Health Care Unit in Gulberg Town was a great service to the people, ensuring access to medical facilities. “Where earlier 40 to 50 patients would come to the OPD, now hundreds and even thousands will benefit,” he said, adding that outside doctors would also be engaged.
Hafiz Naeem paid tribute to former Karachi Mayor Naimatullah Khan, calling him a symbol of service and honesty, under whose leadership Karachi saw exemplary development. He criticized PPP and MQM, saying that despite their public disagreements, they were “two sides of the same coin.” “The people of Karachi have already rejected MQM in the last elections; they couldn’t win even a single polling booth, yet the establishment imposed them again through Form 47,” he added.
He said Karachi contributes 54% of the country’s exports, 67% of revenue, and 95% of Sindh’s budget, yet the city is deprived of its due rights.

Referring to the city’s civic issues, he said Karachi needs 15,000 buses, but in the past 17 years, the PPP government in Sindh has provided only 400—many of which are not even operational. “Roads are broken, gutters are overflowing, and where a traffic fine costs Rs 200 in Punjab, it costs Rs 5,000 in Karachi,” he said, lamenting that only 10 percent of Karachi’s traffic police are local citizens. “Due to the lack of quality transport, over five million people are forced to use motorcycles.”

He also criticized the Sindh Solid Waste Management system, saying it still operates under old UC boundaries despite the passage of two and a half years since the new system was announced. “Political contractors have destroyed this city,” he said, citing delayed projects like the Red Line BRT and Karimabad Underpass. “Roads like Jehangir Road and 7,000-Foot Road are in deplorable condition. More than half the city lacks access to clean drinking water, while the tanker mafia earns billions. Karachi faces 18-hour load-shedding, dusty roads, and deteriorating infrastructure.”
Despite limited powers, he said, JI's elected representatives were working for the city’s progress. “In two years, we have restored over 171 parks across our nine towns, rebuilt 43 government schools, installed over 100,000 streetlights, created model neighborhoods, introduced free Wi-Fi and water harvesting systems, and are installing pure water blocks.”
“Karachi is the economic hub of this country, yet its citizens are deprived of basic facilities. PPP’s mindset is rooted in hostility toward Karachi. Jamaat-e-Islami will continue to serve and rebuild this city despite all obstacles.”
On the occasion, JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar said that Shahrah-e-Naimatullah Khan has been named after a man who symbolizes honesty and development. “We will develop this road to a standard that becomes a model for the entire city,” he said.
Kamran Siraj, Chairman of Gulberg Town, said they were committed to making Gulberg a model town. “In two years, we have introduced roadside forests, water harvesting projects, and restored parks. Today’s inauguration of the Primary Health Care Unit is another milestone.”
Nusratullah highlighted that education and health were core priorities, saying the Samanabad Dispensary had now been upgraded into a fully functional Health Care Unit equipped with echo, ECG, and ultrasound facilities.
Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami District East Naeem Akhtar said in Gulshan-e-Iqbal that within a month, a park project was launched and completed. “We are working beyond our mandate to serve the people. Local committees should be formed to help maintain these parks,” he said.
Town Chairman Dr. Fawad added that under Hafiz Naeem’s vision, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town has restored 18 parks, renovated 14 schools, rebuilt 700,000 square feet of roads, and installed 486 streetlights. “We will upgrade the remaining parks and establish a model market for the citizens,” he announced.