KARACHI (Dunya News) - Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Sunday said the people of the metropolis wanted development and better civic facilities instead of politics based on prejudice and division.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, Wahab said some political elements continued to view the city’s problems through the lens of discrimination and division, while ordinary citizens were primarily concerned about development, infrastructure and access to essential services.
He said Karachi’s residents had been distracted by various issues in the past instead of being provided opportunities and facilities needed for the city’s progress.
The mayor also strongly criticised the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) past political role in Karachi, claiming that merit had suffered and the city’s young people had been pushed towards violence rather than education and constructive activities.
Wahab alleged that there was a time when a single call from the MQM could bring Karachi to a standstill, adversely affecting normal life and economic activity across the metropolis.
He further claimed that residents of the Garden area had previously remained deprived of basic facilities, including adequate water supply.
Highlighting measures being taken by the city administration, Wahab announced that a pumping station had become operational from Sunday as part of efforts to improve the provision of basic services to residents.
He said the authorities were working to ensure that Karachi’s citizens received the facilities they deserved and maintained that development should take precedence over political disagreements.
The mayor stressed that Karachi needed policies centred on merit, infrastructure development and improved civic services.
He said the city could move forward only by leaving behind divisive politics and focusing resources and attention on addressing the everyday problems faced by millions of residents.
Wahab’s remarks also reflected continuing political differences over responsibility for Karachi’s longstanding civic challenges, including water shortages, deteriorating infrastructure and gaps in municipal services.
He maintained that residents should be judged and provided opportunities on merit rather than being divided along political or other lines.
According to the mayor, Karachi’s future depends on development-oriented politics and effective delivery of basic facilities rather than a return to the confrontational political environment experienced by the city in previous decades.