KARACHI, Feb 08 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that ‘My Karachi Expo’ has become an important and permanent feature of the city’s calendar, reflecting the city’s resilience, diversity and economic vitality despite multiple challenges.
Addressing the 21st My Karachi Exhibition, the chief minister congratulated the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on the successful organisation of the event and termed its continuity a major achievement.
He noted that Sunday marked the final day of the expo, which witnessed participation from millions of citizens over the past few days.
The chief minister said that stalls from several friendly countries were set up at the exhibition, where international partners showcased their products and culture. He added that a large number of people visited the expo over the last two days and actively participated in shopping and business activities.
Referring to recent tragic incidents, the chief minister said that the nation was still grieving due to the Islamabad tragedy, while the Gul Plaza incident in Karachi had also deeply saddened the people. He said the Sindh government, in collaboration with KCCI, was working to support the affectees of Gul Plaza and to help rehabilitate damaged shops to compensate for losses as much as possible.
Despite the challenges, Murad Ali Shah said Sindh remained a vibrant province. He highlighted that Karachi recently hosted major regional and international events, including the 7th South-East Asian Parliamentarians’ session, the 17th edition of the Karachi Literature Festival, and the 774th Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
He also recalled that an international cultural festival held a few months ago continued for nearly 39 days.
The chief minister expressed gratitude to the people of Sindh, especially Karachi, for actively participating in cultural, sports, business, and literary events. He recalled that even after the devastating floods of 2022, when nearly 70 per cent of the province was submerged, the people of Sindh demonstrated remarkable resilience and recovered collectively.
Emphasising democratic values, the CM said that peaceful protest was a constitutional right but must remain within the bounds of law. He said relevant forums existed for registering complaints and grievances, and matters should be resolved through institutional and democratic processes rather than media trials.
Talking about public safety, the chief minister said improving the fire brigade system was among the government’s top priorities. He revealed that the system was previously divided among multiple authorities and would now be brought under one unified institution. He said China had offered cooperation to help improve the fire brigade system, including training to ensure rapid response to fire incidents.
Murad Ali Shah also said that work was underway to improve roads, flyovers, and emergency response mechanisms across Karachi. He stressed the importance of implementing basic safety measures in buildings with high public footfall, including clear exit signage and alarm systems, to prevent major losses.
Regarding the K-IV water project, the chief minister said it was initiated nearly 10–11 years ago but faced delays due to flawed planning, power issues, cost objections and funding gaps. He added that the federal government had now taken responsibility for the main line, with support from the World Bank. He expressed hope that once completed, the project would help address water shortages in the city.
Earlier, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah visited various stalls at the My Karachi Expo, interacted with exhibitors, and spoke to the media. He was received by the KCCI management, who briefed him on the arrangements and objectives of the exhibition.