HYDERABAD, :Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Saturday said a mega development package for the city on the lines of the Karachi package would be worked out soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have discussed the projects required for development of Hyderabad during my today\u2019s visit,\u201d he said this while addressing a press conference at the zonal office of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister particularly pointed out the federal university project, which was being established in Kohsar, Latifabad, and said that the land acquisition was a stumbling block in timely completion of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will meet Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah) on Monday and take up this issue as well,\u201d he told, underlining the need of providing greater higher education facilities to the youth in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He apprised that the Engineering Support Center of the Federal Ministry of Industries had been established in Hyderabad to support the industries especially motorbike, bangles and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe manifestos of MQM-P and PTI are improving the lives of the people and this is why in the last federal budget, some schemes for Hyderabad included,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you check the streets in Karachi and Hyderabad you will not find the basic facilities which are the provincial government\u2019s onus. Therefore, the federal government felt the need for those smaller schemes,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umar told that he had discussed with the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly MPA, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and MQM-P\u2019s representatives that the center wanted to get approved a big package for Hyderabad on the lines of the Karachi package in collaboration with the provincial government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the prospect of launching mutual mega development projects in Hyderabad being the largest city after Karachi, as well under a joint strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister said during his interaction with Hyderabad\u2019s business community, the latter acknowledged that the problems they had been confronting were under purview of the provincial government which had failed to address them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho holds the reins of power in Sindh. Aren\u2019t these the same people whose financial resources have kept increasing but at the same time the problems of the people are also building up?\u201d he questioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a query about arrest of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz\u2019s leader, Capt (r) Safdar after October 18 rally of Pakistan Democratic Movement in Karachi, the minister said the way he was apprehended was uncalled for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill anyone tell if the federal government got any benefit or loss from Safdar\u2019s arrest. If the latter is true then why will the center do this?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also questioned why the people were not raising the question that the sanctity of Quaid-e-Azam\u2019s mausoleum was violated when the political slogans were raised there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the PML-N\u2019s assertion that the PTI\u2019s government would not complete the ongoing year 2020 in power, he said the people making the predictions were the same who used to say they own no property in the UK or even in Pakistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asad Umar told that the Hyderabad package would be worked out after the Karachi package\u2019s development works would be streamlined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked about the court\u2019s judgment concerning justice Qazi Faez Essa, he said the full bench itself came to the conclusion that there were relevant questions about the properties which needed to be answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt means the court agreed with the contention that the questions which arose needed answers,\u201d he underscored,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister said the attorney general Anwar Masood Khan was a sophisticated person but might be possible that some of his remarks had offended the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a question about the controversy revolving around the Bhundar and Dingi islands in Sindh, the minister said Prime Minister Imran Khan had already clarified that the issue would be resolved with consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe aren\u2019t sending an army to occupy these islands. The PPP\u2019s (previous) federal government had itself tried to initiate similar projects on these islands,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asad Umar reiterated that in July, 2020, why did the provincial government issue NOC for the two islands to the center if they were opposed to the federal initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201d I think only politics is being done on the islands,\u201d he observed.
He contended that presently Pakistan, particularly Sindh, needed investment and employment which would be provided by the island projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the PDM\u2019s power show in Karachi on October 18, Umar said PTI and MQM-P could hold a far larger power show in Karachi if the threat of spread of COVID-19 pandemic did not exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe do not feel any pressure from PDM\u2019s power show,\u201d he said, adding that the two parties had 20 seats of the National Assembly in Karachi and Hyderabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the COVID-19 policy of Pakistan had been appreciated by the global community and advised the people to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) because the virus was still present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister noted that the spread of the virus would affect both the human health and livelihood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When questioned about the controversy concerning the population census 2017, he told that the federal government had formed a cabinet committee, comprising representatives from all the provinces, to resolve the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf the census increases the Karachi population, Sindh\u2019s share in the NFC and the federal resources will also increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My question is why we haven\u2019t heard the voice of the CM Sindh or Sindh government on this issue. This question should be asked from them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
HYDERABAD, :Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Saturday said a mega development package for the city on the lines of the Karachi package would be worked out soon. \u201cWe have discussed the projects required for development of Hyderabad during my today\u2019s […]<\/p>\n
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