As the federal government finalizes next year’s budget, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab requested a comprehensive development package for the metropolis from the prime minister on Friday.
At a press conference, the mayor urged the Centre to develop schemes for the country’s business capital and implement them through the elected local government. He emphasized that Karachi, as the revenue engine and economic hub, deserved the same financial support from the Centre as it received from the province.
However, he provided limited details on the financial assistance sought from the Centre, specifically asking Islamabad to contribute to Karachi’s infrastructure development. He was adamant about collecting utility charges via electricity bills, claiming the tax would generate Rs4.5bn for KMC.
Later, he explained that he wanted federal budgetary allocations for Karachi in the federal Public Sector Development Programme. Suggestions included building the Northern Bypass and handing over control of the Lyari Expressway to the city government. He noted that since Karachi received no federal budget funds, a Rs10 billion allocation would significantly benefit the city and the country.
Hopeful of consensus on MUCT, the mayor expressed enthusiasm over the Sindh High Court’s recent verdict, which vacated the stay order on collecting Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT) through electricity bills. The court directed the mayor to present the proposal to the City Council within three months.
The mayor was confident that the council committee would consider the proposal next week and build consensus. After approval from the committee would be forwarded to the City Council. “This tax would help KMC generate Rs4.5 billion in revenue,” he said. “With this amount, we can fund our 245 union committees, promoting financial empowerment of the local government as required by Article 140-A of the Constitution. This will create financial space for the KMC, moving it towards self-reliance.”
When asked about potential resistance from opposition parties, especially Jamaat-i-Islami, Mayor Wahab said he would seek consensus by contacting every party in the council for cooperation in the city’s best interest. “If the committee does not approve it unanimously, we will decide by majority vote. Once passed by the majority, we will move it to the council for approval. After approval, we will start collecting it through KE without delay.”
He also mentioned the Sindh government’s recent approval of Rs12 billion for constructing a new Hub Canal and rehabilitating the existing one, as the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) proposed. Mayor Wahab stated that 200 million gallons per day of water could be provided to the city from the dam upon completing the new canal project in 12 months.
