PTI lawmakers seek Rangers' role in Karachi's water distribution.

KARACHI -- Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers from Karachi have asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve the water crisis in the city by giving the control of the water distribution system to Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, which is at present the sole mandate of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) that falls under the direct control of the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government.

Amid rumours and speculations about internal differences within the PTI, the MNAs of the ruling party at the Centre managed to hold a long-awaited meeting with the prime minister in Islamabad on Friday.

While denying any differences, the MNAs, who met the premier, said the meeting was purely called to discuss Karachi's issues, which ranged from the water crisis to deteriorating transport system, growing street crime and the shortage of gas in the city.

The MNAs claimed to have won a promise from the PM that he would visit Karachi later next week.

A delegation of PTI MNAs from Karachi calls on prime minister and apprises him of city's problems

'The key issue discussed in the meeting was the prevailing water crisis in Karachi,' PTI MNA Faheem Khan told Dawn after the Islamabad meeting. 'There was a consensus in the meeting and everyone who lives in Karachi knows it well that there is no shortage of water in the city but it's in fact the mismanagement in distribution, corruption and support to tankers mafia from authorities that has been intensifying the crisis with each passing day.'

He said during the discussion the PM sought different suggestions from the MNAs to resolve the crisis of water distribution in the city and the meeting agreed that the role of the Rangers could be effective in this regard.

When asked about a legal position and logic to engage the paramilitary force in water distribution, which is solely the mandate of the provincial government and the KWSB, he said that the meeting discussed 'different modalities' on the issue but it would be shared later after finalisation.

Abdul Shakoor Shad, another PTI MNA who attended the meeting, said that party leaders were convinced about the active engagement of the federal government to resolve Karachi's issues including transport and gas supply.

He said the PM was very keen to play his role for Karachi and he had called for a briefing from Planning and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umer on Monday to discuss transport issues of Karachi.

'We will see the meeting bear fruits for Karachi...