KARACHI, Oct 20 (APP): Sindh Government Spokesman Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was not running away from the local government (LG) elections as it was a popular party in the province.

The party, he said, would grab the mayoral slots both in Karachi and Hyderabad, whenever the LG polls were held, as evident from the Malir by-election where it had won back the National Assembly seat.

Actually, the PPP government was committed to improve the local government system and that was why the summary for amendments in the municipal laws would be sent for approval in the next 48 hours, he said addressing the opening ceremony of the 100 kilowatt power generation project here at the Kidney Hill Park.

Director General Parks Junaidullah Khan and other officers were also present on the occasion.

Murtaza Wahab, who is also Administrator Karachi, said the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) had planted trees across the city to combat climate change.

The KMC was setting a new tradition in the form of a green energy project to emulate by the LG bodies elsewhere in the country, he added.

Barrister Murtaza said the KMC was also working on the concept of green energy and in the first phase, solar panels were being installed in the Kidney Hill Park to generate 100 kilowatts of electricity.

“Within a month, these solar panels will start generating 100 kilowatts of electricity, saving around Rs 5 million per month,” he added.

He said the initiative would prove to be an important step in reducing the expenses of KMC and help it become financially stable. The money spent on electricity acquisition would be used for development works.

He said the Kidney Hill Park project was an important step towards a ‘Clean Green Karachi’. The KMC would set up such projects in other places.

Murtaza said urban forests in Clifton and other places in the mega city showed that Karachi could be made green.

The 62 acre Kidney Hill Park with 1.5 million saplings planted, was a beautiful lush green place visited by a large number of people, who would get motivation from the solar energy project, he added.

He said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman Imran Khan should support the government to help the flood affected people instead of holding a long march.

To a media question, Murtaza said the PTI itself had approached the court to stop the LG elections in Sindh.