KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, while referring to the ongoing conflict between K-Electric and SSGC, said that the Federal government was unwilling to resolve this serious issue because they don’t care about the people of Karachi and they simply don’t want to see the industries running smoothly in this city.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 15th My Karachi – Oasis of Harmony Exhibition at Karachi Expo Center on Friday, CM Sindh demanded that if the Federal government is unable to control SSGC and K-Electric, the Board of Directors and Management of both these entities should immediately be handed over to Sindh government. “Federal government can keep their shares and profits from these entities but Sindh government should be given representation at the Boards of both companies and the Management must also handed over to us. Then, we will make sure that SSGC and K-Electric take steps in the interest of Karachiites”, he added.
Sindh Minister for Industries Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Vice Chairmen BMG Zubair Motiwala and Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, Senior Vice President KCCI Abdul Basit Abdul Razzak, Vice President KCCI Rehan Hanif, Former Presidents AQ Khalil, Khalid Firoze, Mian Abrar, Majyd Aziz, Abdullah Zaki, Iftikhar Vohra, Younus Muhammad Bashir, Shamim Ahmed Firpo, KCCI Managing Committee members along with diplomats from various countries and exhibitors were also present on the occasion.
Commenting further on SSGC & K-Electric issue, CM informed that he has written two letters to Prime Minister and has personally spoken to him at least 6 times but to no avail. “The Prime Minister, during our conversation last Sunday, informed that a meeting has been called to resolve this issues but unfortunately that meeting also failed to provide any kind of relief.”
He was of the opinion that the Federal Government, despite having 24 percent stake in K-Electric and 73 percent in SSGC, was unable to resolve this issue which is really worrisome for Sindh government. “We have no share at all in both these entities. We have been demanding representation in K-Electric and SSGC as the problem is being suffered by the people of Karachi and Sindh”, he added.
Murad Ali Shah said, “Prime Minister and Advisor for Finance are busy in foreign tours which is the only thing that matters to them. If they cannot do anything, both these companies should be handed over to us and we will rectify them. We don’t have the capacity to completely take over these companies and it is also not our legal right but Sindh government should be given some authority so that these companies could be forced to do work. The industry and citizens should not suffer because of the ongoing conflict.”
He said that the Federal government simply doesn’t want the industry of Karachi to stay operational as they have been hatching many conspiracies from time to time against this city by ruining the law and order situation and discouraging people from visiting Karachi. “However, the people and industrialists of Karachi are very resilient which is not acceptable to the Federal Government. Hence, they continue to create problems and this conflict between K-Electric and SSGC is part of another conspiracy.”
Murad Ali Shah said that he will walk out of the forthcoming CCI and NEC meetings next week if K-Electric & SSGC conflict stands unresolved and the Federal government continues to show lack of interest towards this artificially created issue.
