KARACHI:For ensuring better civic amenities and fast development in Sindh especially in Karachi, only way forward is adopting inclusive approach of governance with very strong partnership among three tiers — federal, provincial and local governments- and also taking other stakeholders on board and to promote sense of ownership among the masses.
This was outlined by Chairman of Pakistan Engineering Council and Chairman, National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Housing and Works, Engr. Muhammad Najeeb Haroon while speaking at a dinner reception on Friday, which was hosted for him and for SAPM on Maritime Affaris Mahmood Baqi Maulvi by Ghulam Mustafa Karani, an office bearer of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Karachi.
The program was attended by politicians, foreign diplomats based in Karachi, prominent businessmen and media persons.
M. Najeeb Haroon is PTI-MNA from NA-256, Karachi and is one of the very few founder members of the party. Since launch of PTI in 1996, he has been a very close and trusted associate of Imran Khan who always highly appreciated his struggle for strengthening and promoting the party in Karachi amid many odds and challenges when hardly any political party dared to confront Muttahida Qaumi Movement; which once enjoyed almost complete control over the provincial capital and other main cities of Sindh for a long period.
Engr. Najeeb is a foreign qualified Civil Engineer and has been associated with building and construction industry for last three decades. Acknowledging his commitment to the party and to the people of Karachi, Prime Minister Imran Khan has tasked him as his Focal Person to ensure quality of work and timely execution of the development projects launched by the Federal Government in the city. He is the highest tax-paying parliamentarian of the country, who has also surrendered all financial benefits/perks meant for a MNA.
PTI-MNA and PEC Chairman regretted that for political differences and lack of coordination among the major political parties representing Sindh in the mainstream politics of the country, the province mainly Karachi had suffered very badly in the past. Most important was, he continued, Federal, Provincial and Local Governments should complement each other for the best welfare of the people including doing well-calculated, targeted and fast development. Hence, local governments with maximum powers and resources must be in place at the earliest.
“ Provincial government is our body and local governments are its limbs,” he remarked.
He mentioned that after 18th amendment, the Federal Government had very limited role in the provinces’ affairs. However, PTI Government at the centre was making its best contribution in the socio-economic uplift of the provinces, mainly in Sindh which remained neglected in the past.
Engr. Najeeb recommended strong professional exposure and acknowledgement of engineers in the country for better planning and fast execution of projects in different major sectors i.e. infrastructure, energy, IT, water, blue economy ( maritime affairs). The country needs a large number of highly qualified engineers, equipped with the latest technology and the most modern research labs to match with the fasting moving high-tech world.
“ Like Customs Services and Police Services, much demanded engineering profession be stamped as Engineering Services,” he pleaded adding that being member of National Assembly and PEC Chief, he was making serious efforts for the required legislation. PEC was also working on policy reforms in the engineering sector, which included updating of the syllabus of engineering universities in the country, he said.
Being a very enthusiastic and self-made man from low middle class family of Karachi, the PTI Parliamentarian shared his experiences as a successful businessman, and as a brilliant and very active student in politics from college level. After getting intermediate education from D.J. Science College, Karachi, he did Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) from N.E.D University of Engineering and MS Engineering from Oregon State University , USA, he said.
He expressed his full confidence in the government policies and efforts, and hoped that things were getting better, and the socio-economic environment would further improve to attract even Overseas Pakistanis to come back to invest in and serve their homeland.
He praised Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team’s high spirit to improve the life of the common man, along with making Pakistan prosperous.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Maritime Affairs, Mahmood Baqi Maulvi spoke of the different initiatives taken over last couple of years for upgrading and expansion of port facilities and revival of the shipping industry.
He appreciated the government’s performance under the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He feared that negative politics of the opposition and the resultant chaos might damage the economy and the image of the country before the world , which had been restored after long multi-dimensional efforts by the government.