-Says government won’t leave people of Karachi alone in such difficult situation
From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: While expressing concerns over torrential rains in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that the federal government will not leave the people of Karachi alone in this difficult situation. As per details, PM Imran Khan telephoned Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and expressed concern over the recent rains in the metropolis that has disturbed the normal life. The premier ordered Imran Ismail to speed up relief efforts in rain-hit areas of the city and moved stranded people to safety. He also directed to provide food to people affected by torrential rains.
“Federal government will not leave people of Karachi alone,” said PM Imran and added that he was fully aware of the problems being faced by people of Karachi and monitoring the situation.
Later, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, in a Tweet, has said Prime Minister Imran Khan is monitoring the situation that has arisen in Karachi due to the torrential rains.
“Briefed PM Imran Khan over Sindh rain situation, Karachi needs special attention. This is unusual and abnormal rain situation which requires an emergency response. PM is monitoring the situation and assured to take any action required,” tweeted Ismail. It is pertinent to mention here that heavy monsoon rains battered large swathes of the metropolis on Thursday, inundating major roads and low-lying areas and causing severe traffic jams on several major arteries of the city.
Commuters waded through knee-deep waters, chest-deep in some areas, as vehicles were submerged with torrential rains adding to traffic woes. Power outages were also witnessed in many areas as K-Electric’s feeders tripped, suspending power supply.Knee-deep rainwater also gathered at Saddar, M.A. Jinnah Road and Tibet Centre, Sohrab Goth, Shara-e-Faisal, Malir and Landhi, Safoora Chowrangi, NIPA Chowrangi, Hassan Square and People’s Chowrangi.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Housing Development and Construction, to be commenced shortly at the PM house on Thursday.
The NCC meeting is convened to brief the prime minister on the development made on affordable housing and construction project for low-income segments under the Naya Pakistan Housing Programme. The Chairman of the Naya Pakistan Housing Authority will brief the meeting on the progress.
The meeting will be attended by federal ministers and secretaries among other members of the committee.
The agenda of the meeting includes the assessment and contemplation of responses by stakeholders for the construction of houses. Besides the meeting will also discuss the impediments faced in securing bank loans for facilitating the construction process, the sources said.
The prime minister put together the NCC on Housing, Construction, and Development back in July in order to expedite the progress on the government’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme project.The NCC members include chairman, who is also the convener of the committee, secretary housing and works, secretary planning, secretary finance, secretary power or his representative, secretary petroleum, secretary law and justice, SBP deputy governor, representatives of the central bank governor, chief secretaries of all provinces, AJ&K, and the Gilgit-Baltistan area are also a part of the forum.
The FBR chairman, CDA chairman, chief commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), NAPHDA deputy chairman, member/secretary of the Committee, or their representatives not below BS-21 grade would also be a part of the committee.
