Barrister Murtaza Wahab will continue to perform his duties as the administrator of Karachi as the Sindh government has refused to accept his resignation, it was reported on Wednesday.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader resigned from his post three days ago following the Sindh High Court’s (SHC) decision to stop the collection of Karachi Metropolitan Cooperation (KMC) tax in electricity bills.
While addressing a joint press conference alongside Information Minister Sharjeel Memon and Sindh Minister for Excise Mukesh Chawla, Sindh Minister of Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said, “Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed him to continue his work”. He added that some elements were not happy with the appointment of a diehard PPP worker as the Karachi administrator, who according to him was working in the best interest of the citizens. “It looked like Murtaza Wahab became emotional and tendered his resignation,” Shah added.
Responding to a question, the excise and taxation minister said the provincial government has given a Rs25 billion subsidy to flour mills thus fixing the flour price at Rs65 per kg. Chawla further said one flour mill was sealed earlier for violating government’s orders. “Despite our subsidy, the wheat flour is being sold at an exorbitant price. We will take action against the mills,” he said.
The minister said that the country was facing a gigantic challenge of rehabilitation of millions of Pakistanis affected by floods, which required joint efforts by the entire nation; particularly the political leadership must rise above political differences in these challenging times.
“Our entire leadership, including the Sindh chief minister, cabinet members, MPAs as well as MNAs are focusing on providing maximum relief to the people of Sindh and the provincial government has started providing flour at subsidised rate,” they said.
Sharjeel said that wheat flour was being provided at discounted rates through shops, stalls and mobile trucks while a list of the 700 centres and their mobile numbers have been published in all major newspapers for public information. He said that all deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners have been strictly instructed to prevent misuse of the facility.
Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the disease outbreak in the province was a result of torrential rains and the subsequent floods. He added that fogging machines have been made available at the union council-level in the entire province.
“The Sindh CM had released special funds in this regard and fumigation was being carried out across the province. The district administration and departments of irrigation, local government and public health were working together on dewatering of affected areas,” he said.
Sharjeel went on to say that relief activities by the Sindh government were underway in all affected districts and so far 355,384 tents, 358,998 plastic tarpaulins, 2,676,473 mosquito nets, 776,313 litres of mineral water, 49,919 kitchen sets and other items have been distributed to the victims while 950,224 families were provided with ration bags.
Responding to a query about leaked audio of PTI chairman, Sharjeel said that Imran Khan has been exposed. “The PTI chairman put the country’s diplomatic relations at stake for his personal and political interests and pushed the country into a quagmire,” he alleged.
