KARACHI: Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Chairman Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui has said that the Korangi industrial area is contributing Rs 300 million per day to the national exchequer and despite the fact the industrial units are deprived of water supply and other basic necessities.
He expressed these views while addressing a luncheon hosted by the KATI in the honour of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) Managing Director (MD) Qutubuddin Shaikh. However, the chief guest could not attend the event due to his appointment with a minister of the provincial government.
Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, former KATI chairman Syed Farukh Mazhar, Zubair Chhaya, Masood Naqi, Gulzar Feroz, Akbar Farooqui and Member of KATI Standing Committee on KWSB Osama Abbas Niazi were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the guests, KATI Chairman Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui expressed deep concerns over the absence of the KWSB MD at the luncheon reception which was organised in his honour.
The KATI chairman said that it was really a surprise move by the KWSB MD that he instead of listening to the grievances of the business community had preferred to attend a meeting with a provincial minister, which is open evidence that the KWSB MD was not serious towards resolving the issues of the business community.
He further said that the meeting was aimed to apprise the KWSB MD of the issues related to scarcity of water being faced by the industrialists of Korangi area.
KATI Chairman Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui further said that the industrialists of Karachi were contributing more than 70 percent of the total revenue of the country, adding that the business community was more important than ministers whose expenses were also met with the taxes generated by the common man and the business community.
On the occasion, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said that if the KWSB MD was not able to attend the luncheon reception, he should have at least informed the authorities concerned.
He said that the business community instead of paying heavy taxes was being deprived of basic necessities while on the other hand, the tanker mafia was fully activate and providing water on very high rates.
