KARACHI, May 26 (NNI): In a ceremony held at the Sindh chief minister house on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif laid the foundation stone of the K-IV project, aimed at addressing the longstanding issue of clean water scarcity in Karachi.
The event was attended by prominent political figures, including members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P).
During his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his gratitude for the supportive remarks made by Foreign Minister and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto. He referred to Bilawal Bhutto as his younger brother and acknowledged the efforts of the coalition government in working together to overcome challenges and maintain unity over the past year.
Reflecting on the political landscape, Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of unity in governance and credited it with enabling the government to confront significant challenges.
He particularly highlighted the events of May 9, which he described as the darkest day in Pakistan’s history due to an attempted political upheaval by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
He said the strings of the May 9 conspiracy were attached to abroad and that the desecration of martyrs and installations on the instigation of Imran Niazi was the darkest chapter in the nation’s history.
Shehbaz Sharif said that no one should object if Government of Pakistan punished the arsonists of May 9 as per law, the way the United States of America had done to its citizens for storming the Capitol building on January 6, 2021.
“Today, in the city of Quaid, we all are ashamed for what happened on May 9 in Lahore. The justice requires to punish the perpetrators like the rioters of Capitol building on January 6, 2021. If that punishment was legal, then no one should object if we do so under our law for the desecration of our martyrs,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister said the person who always blamed others for plunders had resorted to arsons when arrested on charges of corruption. “What kind of politics is this,” he questioned and said no political leader in the past ever instigated an attack on Jinnah House or military installations, despite having faced many difficulties.
Shehbaz Sharif praised the unity of the parliament in foiling the conspiracy, which he believed was backed by external forces.
He said the coalition government coped with huge challenges through collective wisdom, including floods, inflation, IMF and also the nefarious designs of chaotic politics which culminated on the darkest day of May 9.
The prime minister noted that Pakistan’s economic development had been hindered by political chaos in the past year. However, he remained optimistic and expressed determination to resolve various issues, including inflation, in order to restore Pakistan’s standing.
He assured the public that the government would tackle all challenges and work towards regaining the country’s lost position. He vowed to focus on the welfare of the people and stressed that access to clean water was a fundamental right for all citizens.
Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the controversy surrounding the K-IV project, highlighting its significance for the people of Karachi.
The Prime Minister criticized the politicization of the project and accused the former Prime Minister Imran Khan of neglecting it, highlighting that his administration would prioritize its completion.
Shehbaz Sharif condemned the use of inflammatory language in politics, particularly citing a statement allegedly made by a political leader to burn military installations.
The prime minister declared that the allocation of funds for the four projects, including K-IV, would be a top priority in the upcoming budget. He underscored the economic importance of Karachi as the country’s highest-earning city and stated that politicizing issues related to drinking water in such a metropolis was unacceptable.
The K-IV project holds great promise for the residents of Karachi, who have long struggled with inadequate access to clean water. With the foundation stone laid and a renewed commitment from the Prime Minister, the project is expected to address this pressing issue and improve the quality of life for the city’s inhabitants.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the prime minister was keenly focusing the development of Sindh, particularly Karachi. He said the two major political parties of Karachi voted the prime minister and his government enjoyed “super majority” in Sindh. He said the people of Sindh also pinned hopes at the prime minister for resolution of their issues.
Bilawal said K-IV project faced immense delay and that Karachi needed “Shehbaz Speed” for resolution of its issues.
Regarding the floods, the foreign minister said the concerted efforts were needed for rehabilitation of the people in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, South Punjab and other areas, including the metropolises. He said around 52 percent of Sindh’s educational infrastructure had been damaged by the floods impacting the education of around 47 percent population.
Bilawal Bhutto said the leaders of the PPP, MQM and other parties also faced jails and other hardships but they always stood for the democracy, without resorting to the violence.
Minister for Water Resources Syed Khursheed Shah said the project was of utmost important to meet Karachi’s water needs. He said The first phase would provide 260 million gallons of water to the city. He also requested the prime minister to announce K-5 project as the K-4 would be insufficient to cope with the future needs.
Shah said due to government’s efforts and dedication, the country would neither default nor its economy would destabilize.
Minister for Maritime Affairs Faisal Sabzwari said the K-IV project was also part of the agreement between the MQM and the ruling coalition. He said unnecessary delay in the project led to huge increase in the cost. He said the whole province including Sindh chief minister had serious reservations on the census.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said starting from 2002, the project was used to be an example of ill-planning and had faced immense delay.
The project would accumulatively cost around Rs200 billion which could have been around Rs100 billon had it been started timely. He said storage of Keenjhar Lake would have to be enhanced as the Irrigation Department has already proposed a project for the water body’s expansion.
He urged the federal government to ensure provision of funds for timely completion of the project.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori said under the leadership of prime minister and Foreign Minister Bilawal, the project was moving ahead. He said for the first time, the federal and provincial government were on the same page to execute the much delayed project. He said the May 9 like incidents had united the nation and thwarted the designs of the miscreants.
In his address, WAPDA Chairman Engr Lt Gen Sajjad Ghani (Retd) said K-IV water project would supply 650 million gallons of water to Karachi. The first phase would provide 260 million gallons and 390 million gallons to be supplied in the second phase. He said under the project, a 111 kilometer long pipeline would be laid from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi.
The first phase would cost Rs126 billion as Rs33 billion had already been spent on the project.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Water Resources Minister Syed Khursheed Shah, Maritime Affairs Minister Faisal Sabzwari, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and others were also present. NNI
