KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar on Thursday demanded a grant of Rs5 billion for each town and the transfer of financial and administrative powers to towns and union councils (UCs), as provided under the Constitution, particularly the 18th Amendment. He made the demand while speaking to media during his visit to New Karachi Town. He was accompanied by JI Karachi Deputy Ameer Engr Saleem Azhar, New Karachi Town Chairman Muhammad Yousuf, and JI Secretary Information Zahid Askari. Earlier, he reviewed development work being carried out in the town. Monem Zafar said New Karachi Town had begun a development drive under the slogan “Beautiful Neighbourhoods, Beautiful Town.” Under the first phase, work on 600 streets was initiated, of which 300 have already been completed. He said JI-run towns resolved sewerage issues despite limited resources, spending Rs2 billion over the past two and a half years. Clean drinking water was provided through pipelines to 20,000 households in New Karachi Town alone, while a total of 80,000 households across Karachi received water connections — a responsibility that should have been fulfilled by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC). Highlighting budget figures, Monem Zafar said the annual budget of KWSC is Rs47 billion, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) Rs43 billion, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Rs55 billion, while the Sindh government’s total budget stands at Rs 3,455 billion. He criticized the PPP-led Sindh government for not devolving powers to towns and UCs, saying that even after the 18th Amendment, local government remains powerless. He added that key institutions, including KWSC and SSWMB, remain under provincial control, including the authority to collect garbage. Due to poor waste collection, garbage is being burned in different areas of the city, causing foul smell, filth, and environmental pollution, which is leading to various diseases among citizens, he said. The JI leader also questioned the effectiveness of a 12-year plan for improving Karachi’s water and sewerage system, launched in 2019 with a budget of $1.6 billion and scheduled for completion in 2031. He said sewerage problems persist across the city despite the project. Speaking on the occasion, New Karachi Town Chairman Muhammad Yousuf said 24 parks have been renovated so far, while work on 12 more parks will be completed by July 2026. He said construction work on two public sector school buildings is under way, which will be converted into model schools to provide quality education in a better environment. Two libraries will also be renovated by July, while one dispensary has already been renovated and work on another will begin after a pending case is resolved. He added that youth centers will also be established for young people. He said the town’s biggest challenge is the failure of KWSC to perform its duties, while SSWMB has reduced garbage-collection machinery, resulting in garbage piles across the area. The practice of setting garbage heaps on fire has now begun, which could lead to serious accidents, he warned. At the end, Monem Zafar reiterated his demand for an immediate Rs5 billion grant for each town to continue development and construction work effectively. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026