Prolonged closure of businesses adversely impacting society, says mayor.

KARACHI -- City Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday said that the public would take to the streets if a comprehensive economic policy was not adopted to help resolve financial problems of the people during the lockdown.

Addressing an event titled 'Tohfa-i-Ramazan' in Federal B Area, the mayor said that prolonged closure of business activities might have a huge impact on society as poor and jobless people might take to the streets.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation works committee chairman Hassan Naqvi, parks committee chairman Khurram Farhan and volunteers of Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation were also present.

The mayor said that khidmat-i-khalq (serving the people) was in their blood and they would continue serving the people without any discrimination.

He said that Covid-19 affected the entire world and those who were helping the needy were commendable.

'Just lockdown is not a solution as the people should also be given ration and essential commodities. The people might remain safe from coronavirus by staying at home, but could die for want of food,' he said.

The mayor was of the view that the provincial government's efforts were limited to verbal statements as it didn't have even data of the needy people, adding that elected local government representatives of the city were not taken on board on measures adopted to combat the coronavirus. 'We have data at UC level and UC chairmen are well aware of local issues and could play vital role in current circumstances but unfortunately they are not being utilised,' said the mayor.

He said that they had been providing not only rations, but also iftar from the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation platform.

'The KKF volunteers are ensuring provision of iftar to the needy people on their doorstep in New...