KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the secrecy and confidentiality maintained during the recent census has made it more dubious as even if the census figures being publicized now were actually correct, all stakeholders have serious doubts over the credibility of the census data as the entire process has been carried out in a secretive manner.
Speaking at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, Chief Minister added at the time of commencement of census, he approached the Ministry of Statistics being headed by Ishaq Dar and advised to publicize the data by sharing a copy of all the details at least with heads of the families who were providing information about the number of family members but we were told that it was a highly confidential data and if we have any issue, a complaint should formally be lodged to the concerned department.
During his visit to Karachi Chamber, Murad Ali Shah was accompanied by some of the key Ministers of Sindh Cabinet including Minister for Industries and Commerce Manzoor Hussain Wassan, Minister for Planning & Development Mir Hazar Khan Bijrani, Minister for Excise & Taxation Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro and Minister for Transport & Mass Transit, Labor, Human Resources and Information Nasir Hussain Shah whereas Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) and Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli, Vice Chairmen BMG & Former Presidents KCCI Zubair Motiwala & Anjum Nisar, President KCCI Shamim Ahmed Firpo, Senior Vice President KCCI Asif Nisar, Vice President Muhammad Younus Soomro, forthcoming President KCCI Muffasar Atta Malik, Former President AQ Khalil and KCCI Managing Committee members were also present at the meeting.
Referring to the infrastructure issues raised by Karachi Chamber, Chief Minister said that the Sindh government was well cognizant of all these issues and was taking steps to provide relief to the citizens of Karachi. In this regard, a sum of Rs10 billion was allocated last year for the development of Karachi, of which Rs7.5 billion were utilized in different projects which included revamping of Shahrah-e-Faisal and reconstruction of Tariq Road and University Road, Construction of Underpass at Drig Road and many other projects which have either been successfully completed or were nearing completion.
He said that the local government was also given a sum of Rs8 billion for development work but no major project has been completed by them while the performance of Sindh government is in front of everyone. Sindh government was providing sufficient funds as per needs and at the earliest to the local government so that they could smoothly carry out the development work in Karachi which is the economic engine of Pakistan. “We want to work in association with the local government but they must deliver”, he added.
Murad Ali Shah, while accepting Siraj Teli’s invitation to attend an event being staged to mark 20 years Businessmen Group and the work done by PPP for development of Karachi, said that the entire Sindh Cabinet of Pakistan Peoples Party will jointly celebrate 20 years of Businessmen Group with 22,000 members of Karachi Chamber. “You people inform us the date for celebrations and inshallah, we all will be there”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Businessmen Group & Former President KCCI Siraj Kassam Teli pointed out that the Federal government, instead of enhancing tax collection through direct taxes, raised the number of indirect taxes and allowed FBR to twist arms of loyal taxpayers, which has resulted in plunging the economy into deep crisis.
