KARACHI: President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Shamim Ahmed Firpo has called for giving full administrative and financial powers to Karachi’s Mayor Waseem Akhtar and his team immediately so that the civic and economic issues of the city be resolved; allegedly neglected for a long period.
The city and district councils were the right platforms for resolution of the city’s problems and addressing the people’s complaints, KCCI President said while talking to APP here on Tuesday. It was world-known fact that only local governments would be capable enough to focus on the issues like cleanliness, traffic congestion/jams, parking issue, provision of recreational facilities along with ensuring availability of clean drinking water and keeping sewerage and drainage systems intact, argued the KCCI President. He maintained that the City Mayor, who had a big mandate from this international city, seemed to be very serious to deliver to the people. But, he regretted, he lacked administrative powers and the required funds for resolution of the issues.
“ During his recent visit to Karachi Chamber, Mayor promised the business community to make his best possible efforts for resolution of civic and economic issues of the city,” he recalled. On behalf of KCCI members, Shamim Ahmed Firpo assured full support to the City Mayor in his all positive steps.
KCCI President emphasized on expediting the repair or construction work on different roads and other development projects in the city as the slow pace had put the citizen in trouble while moving to their offices and businesses and back to their homes. There should be proper diversions to escape recurrent traffic congestions or jams. “ It would be more proper to do work on this project during night hours,” he asserted.
President Karachi Chamber, on this occasion, praised the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa for encouraging the business community by giving assurance that more steps would be taken to further improve the law and order situation in the city; which is pre-requisite for promoting trade and industry including bringing more local and foreign investment.
He said that in recent meeting with the COAS here, around 40 businessmen representing different trade and industry bodies including Karachi Chamber expressed their satisfaction when they heard from the Army Chief that the business community was important stakeholder of the country and deserved
