Karachi: Spokesperson for the Mayor of Karachi and Parliamentary Leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Karamullah Waqasi, has reaffirmed that the journey toward Karachi’s development and prosperity will continue at all costs. He strongly endorsed the ongoing Lyari Transformation Project, describing it as a revolutionary step toward the city’s progress, rehabilitation, and modernization.
According to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Karamullah Waqasi categorically rejected statements made by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Muneem Zafar, terming them baseless, misleading, and reflective of political hypocrisy. He accused JI of once again attempting to deceive the public through unfounded allegations, negative politics, and a misleading narrative.
He stated that whenever the Sindh government or the Mayor of Karachi initiates a development project, Jamaat-e-Islami resorts to propaganda and attempts to mislead citizens. According to Karamullah Waqasi, JI has failed to deliver any tangible development in the nine towns under its control over the past two years and has instead focused solely on criticizing the PPP without presenting any practical initiatives.
Highlighting the Lyari Transformation Project, Karamullah Waqasi said that the area is being developed under a comprehensive urban planning strategy aimed at equipping it with modern civic amenities. The mega project, with an estimated cost of Rs25.28 billion, is expected to play a key role in improving not only Lyari but also Karachi’s overall infrastructure.
He detailed that the project includes the construction of modern roads, complete rehabilitation of the drainage system, installation of new water supply lines, upgrading outdated infrastructure, cleaning of stormwater drains, underground cabling, and urban beautification initiatives. The project is planned to be completed within four years, with its first phase already underway.
Karamullah Waqasi emphasized that the initiative will help resolve long-standing issues faced by Lyari residents, significantly improve their quality of life, and align the area with modern urban standards. He clarified that the project is not limited to announcements, as work has already begun on the ground and its benefits will soon reach the public.
Criticizing remarks that compared Lyari to the “Stone Age,” Karamullah Waqasi termed such statements an insult to the people of Lyari and indicative of a regressive mindset. He said such language does not suit any serious political party.
He further stated that Jamaat-e-Islami’s politics has become limited to criticism for the sake of criticism, opposition to development projects, and attempts to create controversy around public welfare initiatives. “These are elements that neither contribute themselves nor allow others to work,” he added.
Karamullah Waqasi also rejected allegations made by KMC Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate, calling them fabricated, baseless, and aimed at political point-scoring. He said accusations of corruption in Karachi’s ongoing development projects are deliberate attempts to distort facts and mislead the public.
“All projects are being executed with full transparency, in accordance with rules and merit, with an effective monitoring system in place at every stage,” he asserted.
He added that repeated allegations by the opposition reflect their failure, incompetence, and lack of public support.
Concluding his statement, Karamullah Waqasi reiterated that the Lyari Transformation Project will be completed within the stipulated timeframe without compromising on quality. He affirmed that the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party and local government representatives remain committed to providing modern facilities to the citizens of Karachi, particularly Lyari, and will continue their mission of development and prosperity under all circumstances.