City Council approves Urban Search & Rescue Department

The City District Council on Wednesday approved the establishment of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) department to help trace victims in disasters amidst strong criticism from the opposition. The entire cost, including salaries, allowances, etc on the project will be borne by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).

The Disaster Management Authority of the federal government will play a vital role in the functioning of USAR and trained dogs would be hired to trace the dead and the injured in case of a disaster in the city. Residential quarters will be constructed for the dogs, dog handlers and employees of USAR, City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, who presided over the session of City District Council, said.

Though the resolution moved by the house was approved by the majority, opposition benches made a hue and cry and even staged a walkout for a couple of minutes over the decision of City District Council.

Opposition Member Sheikh Mahboob said half the city has no access to basic amenities such as water and power, while the CDGK was pursuing unimportant projects. Another opposition member, Saifuddin, said that the Crisis Management Cell was established in 2005 but it has not done anything worthwhile thus far. However, Jalil clarified that members should go through the “budget book” before making a complaint. “How can a project be implemented if there is no budget for it,” she quipped.

Haq Parast member Arshad Preedy brushed aside accusations of the opposition, claiming that the CDGK has done more than the entire development work put together during the last 60 years. “The 2005 earthquake in Kashmir is a reminder for us and it is high time to establish USAR,” he said.

Salman Baloch complained that union councils have not received cheques for the last two months. Jalil told the House that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has talked to the finance secretary on Tuesday in her presence and money will be disbursed soon. However, opposition members said that the district city officer was authorized to release the money and this was the first time that it was being withheld.

Arshad Qureshi criticized the move to give more powers to the Rangers despite the fact that the law-and-order situation in the city was satisfactory. He said that Rangers were acting in a barbaric way and harassing the common man. He said pillion riding should be allowed because there was no law-and-order situation in the city.

Yet another member pointed out that Spencer Eye Hospital, situated near Lea Market, was in a bad shape and requested the City Naib Nazim to visit it. Another member said that UTS buses had ceased to operate and the general public was facing acute transport problems. He urged the CDGK to immediately restore the UTS buses to their routes.

Another opposition member pointed out that land grabbing was on the rise in the city and there were reports that CDGK itself was involved in land grabbing in Baldia Town. A member said that the survivors of a fire in “jhuggis” in the recent past told the media that the incident that took place after the occupants were threatened to leave the plot. He also alleged that chemicals were used in the fire.

Ismael Rajput of Haq Parast group said as town nazim New Karachi, he spent 16 hours at the place after the fire erupted and added that houses were being constructed for the affectees.

Earlier, condolence resolution was passed for deceased members of City District Council and “dua” was offered for the ill members. The house proceedings were adjourned till January 24.