Disparity for those faithfully disbursing their electricity dues to endure power outages, Minister of Local Government Sindh
A task force is imperative to address the industrialists’ quandaries, receiving advisories from diverse municipalities, President Johar Qandhari
KARACHI: Sindh’s Minister of Local Government, Housing Town Planning, and Public Health Engineering, Saeed Ghani, has declared the establishment of a task force comprising municipal officers to address the challenges faced by the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI). This proclamation was made during a conference with industrial magnates and journalists at KATI on Saturday.
In his discourse, Saeed Ghani stressed the imperative of uninterrupted electricity for those who dutifully pay their bills, condemning the prevalent practice of load shedding as inequitable. “It is an injustice for those who assiduously settle their electricity dues to suffer from load shedding because of the transgressions of a minority. K-Electric must deploy a mechanism that guarantees continuous power supply to conscientious consumers while implementing rigorous measures against defaulters and thieves,” he declared.
Ghani conceded that the electricity conundrum in Karachi transcends local authorities’ control, with K-Electric’s policies often appearing indecipherable. He underscored the extensive developmental initiatives ongoing in Karachi, depicting them as unparalleled and crucial for the city’s economic proliferation. He also noted that industrial expansion is vital for enhancing labor conditions and achieving holistic economic advancement.
The meeting was attended by several luminaries, including KATI President Johar Qandhari, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Nighat Awan, Vice President Muslim Mohammadi, Chairman of the Standing Committee for Municipalities Masood Naqi, CEO of KITE Limited Zahid Saeed, Former Presidents and Chairpersons Danish Khan, Gulzar Firoz, Farhan-ur-Rehman, SM Yahya, Ehtishamuddin, Sheikh Umer Rehan, Sheikh Fazal-e-Jalil, alongside DG SBCA Abdul Rashid Solangi, DG KDA Shujaat Hussain, MD of Solid Waste Imtiaz Shah, MC KMC Afzal Zaidi, Town Chairman Korangi Naeem Sheikh, and various local government officials and industrialists. The task force’s formation aims to streamline the resolution of KATI’s myriad issues, particularly those pertaining to town limits, revenue collection, and trade licenses.
Addressing the jurisdictional disputes affecting KATI industrialists, Ghani mentioned that these matters are currently under the purview of a local government commission, which will adjudicate impartially and without external influence. He reiterated the necessity for a cohesive and equitable system to manage these disputes, ensuring that industrial operations are not impeded.
President Johar Qandhari articulated the industrialists’ concerns, especially regarding the overlapping claims from Korangi, Landhi, and Shah Faisal Colony on revenue collection and trade licenses. “We receive advisories from multiple municipalities, and now the KMC has also become a claimant. This perplexity must be resolved. We can only remit taxes to one authority, not three or four,” he emphasized, calling for a streamlined tax collection process.
Qandhari also highlighted the severe water and sewage dilemmas besieging the industrial area, pointing out that local bodies have failed to address these issues adequately. He advocated for the establishment of a dedicated committee or board, including all stakeholders, to efficaciously tackle these challenges.
Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya lauded Saeed Ghani’s leadership, attributing the ministry’s enhanced efficiency to his efforts. Chhaya called for more stringent laws to penalize littering and suggested the implementation of desalination plants, similar to those in the Middle East, to mitigate Karachi’s water scarcity.
CEO of KITE Limited, Zahid Saeed, highlighted the successful utilization of a grant from the Sindh government, which facilitated significant improvements in the Korangi industrial area. He solicited additional funding to further benefit both the business community and the general populace.
Masood Naqi, Chairman of the Standing Committee, critiqued the inefficacy of KMC, the Water Board, and KDA in fulfilling their responsibilities, exacerbating the water and sewage crisis in the Korangi industrial area. He called for heightened cooperation from the Sindh government to resolve these pressing issues.