No traffic signal in entire PS 118 constituency, says MPA.

KARACHI -- Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lawmaker Adeel Shahzad surprised the Sindh Assembly on Thursday when he told members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) that the PS-118 constituency in Karachi's West district, from where he has been elected, does not have even a single traffic signal.

'I'm challenging the local government minister and other government authorities to find one traffic signal in the area,' he said while addressing the House during the pre-budget session of the assembly in which a host of issues have been discussed. 'This causes a number of road accidents every day.'

MPA Shahzad's constituency falls in Orangi Town, counted among the world's largest slums. The infrastructure is inadequate, sewage non-existent and departments non-responsive. The lawmaker said that billions are set aside in the budget every year to build road networks, but almost all the main and link roads in his constituency were in a dilapidated state.

Talking about waste management and sewerage, he said the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) appeared helpless to deal with their issues. 'Whenever we visit the KWSB office for repairs of the sewage lines, they excuse themselves citing lack of resources,' he said.

About the law and order situation, the MQM-P MPA said that many police stations in the area were operating without mobile vans and motorbikes for patrolling.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Rabia Azfar Nizami drew the attention of the House towards child labour. 'A staggering 1.7 million children are engaged as child labourers in Sindh. Harsh working conditions deprive children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity,' she said and suggested appointment of child protection...