By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab announced that around 11,500 employees of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation have been provided health insurance facilities, marking what he described as the first such initiative by any municipal institution in Pakistan.
He made the announcement while addressing a ceremony at the KMC head office where health insurance cards, service vehicles and laptops were distributed. The event was attended by Municipal Commissioner Abrar Jaffer, Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader in the KMC City Council Karamullah Waqasi, Deputy Parliamentary Leader Dil Muhammad, President of the Peoples Labour Bureau Karachi Division Aslam Samoo and other officials.
The mayor said employees in the past had to seek recommendations for medical treatment and hospital-related approvals often involved lengthy procedures. He said the new system was designed to reduce delays in healthcare access, noting that even minor delays in medical emergencies could have serious consequences.
Under the policy, KMC employees would receive medical coverage ranging from Rs150,000 to Rs600,000 and would be able to access treatment at around 200 hospitals through health cards.
Murtaza Wahab said the corporation was working on principles of transparency and accountability to ensure timely delivery of public services. He said KMC, in collaboration with the World Bank and the government, was implementing multiple development projects aimed at improving civic facilities.
He said the city administration was introducing a one-window system to streamline services such as property mutation and no-objection certificates, allowing citizens to apply online instead of visiting offices repeatedly. He added that challans and related procedures would also be processed digitally to reduce delays and curb corruption.
The mayor said computers and equipment had been provided to various departments to improve efficiency, while additional vehicles had been allocated to enhance service delivery.
He said the current week was significant for Karachi as several development projects were nearing completion. He noted that Shahrah-e-Bhutto, a 39-kilometre, six-lane highway from Qayyumabad to Kathor, would be inaugurated on May 22 by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He also announced plans for a city museum at Beach View Park, with the foundation stone to be laid by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, adding that the project would be completed within 12 months to showcase Karachi’s cultural and historical heritage.
Murtaza Wahab said water supply issues in Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Steel Town had been addressed through KMC-funded infrastructure work from Pipri, enabling the supply of five million gallons of water daily to the areas.
He said the completion of Shahrah-e-Bhutto and the opening of Lyari Expressway for heavy vehicles would ease traffic congestion in the city.
Criticising the opposition, he said some leaders were engaged in propaganda while KMC focused on practical development work. He added that ongoing road projects, including Jahangir Road and Sehba Akhtar Road, were progressing rapidly.
