Region 
 

Interview

'My Agenda is Clear'.

Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Administrator Karachi, talks to Faizan Usmani and Syeda Areeba Rasheed in this exclusive interview for SouthAsia.

January 2022

Which issues in Karachi are you tackling on priority basis?

The major issue in Karachi is that the people have no confidence in the local authorities as they have failed numerous times in proving their loyalty to the citizens of the city. The first thing that I have focused on is to make people believe that we are listening to them and we are in a position to deliver.

I have started from basics like cleanliness, necessary patchwork on streets, incorporating entertainment elements like food stalls and games in big parks, plantation campaigns and featuring landscapes on bridges, etc. Since garbage is a challenge for Karachiites, all seven districts, other than cantonments, are trying to solve this problem so people can breathe in fresh and clean air.

In the past, the Sindh Government took initiatives like People’s Square and similar projects in Korangi and Malir. Now we are revamping Boat Basin, starting from Schon Circle and Nahr-e-Khayyam, with proper symmetry, landscape and food streets for people to enjoy. Kakri Ground in Lyari and another old fish market near Lea Market is also part of the program.

In short, people will be able to see change provided we are given enough time. After local body elections, the concerned people will take over. But now, I only want to focus on my responsibility rather than thinking about my rights as the Administrator of Karachi.

Since there’s lack of coordination between the Federal and Sindh Government, how will you resolve the funding issue?

Karachi is an industrial hub and a commercial capital and we should value that. Sadly, the federal government lacks in prioritizing and every now and then blames the provincial government for any mishaps.
I will give you an example. The Tameer-e-Karachi program headed by the then Nazim Mustafa Kamal sahib, spent a total of Rs. 22 billion out of which both the Federal and Sindh governments contributed Rs. 6 billion each while another Rs 6 billion was given by the City Government collected by the Mustafa Kamal’s team. The remaining 4 billion were invested by KPT, Port Qasim and PIA to improve the infrastructure of the city. For the past few years, KPT, Port Qasim or the Federal government have not done any productive work, whereas the Sindh Government has been making the city better without any help from KMC or the DMCs.

I would like to call the attention of the Federal government through your esteemed magazine and tell them that they should own the city. Just by saying that it is the commercial capital doesn’t fulfil their responsibility. They need to invest for the infrastructure of the city. And we are ready if they are willing to work with us. But just like in the past, they must fund KMC and the City and the same amount will be funded by the Provincial government to make Karachi a better place.

Karachi has always been divided between cantonments and the Provincial government. What’s your take on the matter?

Wasim Akhtar used to say that 33% of Karachi is under KMC and DMCs while 67% is under the cantonments. I have no authentic data but I can say that Karachi’s biggest areas are under cantonments, like the DHA and other private societies, Civil Aviation, Pakistan Railways, KPT and Port Qasim. These organizations have no control under the Provincial government or local government. Hence, the Federal government must make it clear under the Cantonment Act that municipal functions are carried out by municipal departments in areas where only civilians reside. KPT and Port Qasim should keep their focus on ports and contribute in the development of Karachi.


What needs to be done about the Circular Railway, K4 and the Green Line project?

The Federal government was supposed to complete the Green Line Project in March/April 2015 during the PML-N regime.

The Federal government took the responsibility of K4 under Karachi Transformation Plan and now WAPDA is handling it. I think that K4 alone cannot solve the issue as it will only bring water; the real deal is the allocation of water which has not yet been approved by the Federal government.

The Karachi Circular Railway was made a part of CPEC in December 2016 by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Five years have passed and still a sovereign guarantee has not been issued by the Federal government.

My concern is that if the Federal government can issue a sovereign guarantee for the Orange Line in Lahore, then why can’t it do so in Karachi? Just think about the past 8 years and you’ll see for yourself. It’s all a matter of priority. The day the Federal government owns the city, you will see change.

About Murtaza Wahab:
Barrister Murtaza Wahab is the son of former senior PPP leader late Fauzia Wahab, who served as secretary-general of the PPP’s Central Executive Committee. Barrister Wahab received his early education from the BVS Parsi High School in Karachi and then went abroad to complete his LLB degree from the University of London and Bar at Law from the University of Lincoln. With his formal entry into the political arena, he was first inducted into the provincial cabinet named by then Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on April 30, 2015, and later got appointed as advisor to the chief minister on law. He was awarded the status of a minister in May 2015. With Murad Ali Shah becoming the new chief minister in July 2016, Wahab was also inducted into his provincial cabinet in 2016. In August 2017, Wahab was elected as senator. In 2018, he was appointed as advisor to the chief minister on Anti-Corruption Establishment and Law in August 2018, while in September, he got the additional charge of Information. On 5 August 2021, he was appointed as Administrator of Karachi.

What are your thoughts about the massive migration to Karachi and the spread of katchi abadis?

People from all over the country like Punjab, Balochistan, Peshawar, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, etc. come to Karachi and settle down, showcasing that the city is the economic centre of Pakistan. The question is, the population of the city is increasing but the resources are not.

Just think about how much funds the Federal government gave to KMC during the time when Wasim Akhtar was Mayor Karachi. If they claim that they had no control, then what about giving funds to KMC for maintaining the parks and fire brigade? There are 102 roads under KMC. Did the Federal government provide any funds for betterment? It’s time to see things in black and white rather than just babbling. The fact is that they are least bothered.

My agenda is clear. If I work for something, I don’t think twice whether it’s a cantonment area or KMC. I just know that I am in a position to serve my city and to make it better, - you must own it. After all, it’s your own city and country.

The problems of Karachi are the same as in the past. It seems that we are stuck in this situation.

I agree and the main reason behind this is that we have never identified the root cause of the problem. What we do is we play blame games and we should not do this. That’s why I gave the example of Tameer-e-Karachi Program where the city, provincial and federal government along with the federal entities contributed a sum of Rs. 22 billion.

One might have seen the Sindh government investing in major parts of Karachi but the same cannot be said about Federal government. The Karachi Port is run by KPT but the roads on which the trucks travel are constructed by the Sindh government. The people of Karachi need to think who they are voting for and what are the consequences.

The rate of violence in Karachi is hard to deal with. Your comments.

One always compares the current state of the city with the past and if you analyze the circumstances from 2013, the situation is much better now. Karachi used to be a dangerous city but even according to the International Crime Index, Karachi has significantly improved. We are working to further upgrade it in terms of electronic policing and I’m sure that our Safe City Project will be executed in this financial year.

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