Omar1984
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KARACHI: Iranian Consul-General Masood Mohammad Zamani said here on Wednesday that his country was ready to provide 1,100 megawatts to Pakistan to help control the power crisis in Karachi which has hit every sector of the city.
This offer was made by him while addressing the members of the city council at a special meeting called by Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil.
Mr Zamani made his speech in Urdu to the surprise of many council members. There was complete calm in the house while the consul-general delivered his speech to which the members responded by thumping their desks.
The proceedings of the house began by the welcome address of the convener, Ms Jalil, who recalled the historical and cultural relations that have existed between the two countries for centuries.
She said Iran had always shown keen interest in the development of the city, adding that the sacrifices rendered by Iranian engineers could not be forgotten.
She also said that Pakistan had always wanted to strengthen cultural ties between the countries along with promoting trade.
She said the gas supply agreement and proposed railway lines project between the two countries would have a far-reaching impact on the prosperity and progress of the country.
Regretting the menace of terrorism being faced by both the countries she stressed the need for joint efforts on this front.
After the welcome address, the house convener called upon the consul-general to address the house.
Mr Zamani was warmly greeted by the members when he started delivering his speech.
In his speech, the Iranian consul-general traced the history of the common cultural and historical legacy of the both countries adding that they were linked.
He recalled that Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan in 1947 and Pakistan recognised the Republic of Iran in 1979 when a revolutionary government was set up in the country under the leadership of Imam Khomeini.
He went on to say that Iran had cultural ties with Balochistan and Sindh, including Karachi, since before the emergence of Islam and after the creation of Pakistan.
In this regard, the consul-general referred to the role of saints and religious scholars who had played a great role in bringing people closer.
Thus Mr Zamani argued that the peoples not only shared cultural values but also spiritual values. He also highlighted the importance of Karachi not only as a commercial and industrial city, but also as a centre of saints and referred to the role of the great saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi for the cause of Islam.
Civic problems
He lauded the role of the city government in the development of Karachi, although he said presently the city was facing multiple problems because of population growth and the ongoing electricity crisis.
He made a suggestion that a delegation of the city council should visit Tehran and other Iranian cities to see the development in those cities for themselves.
Mr Zamani informed the house that his country was ready to help the government in overcoming the energy crisis by providing 1,100 MW to contain the power crisis in the city, adding that the Iranian government had already been providing 25 MW to Gwadar.
He went on to say that the gas pipeline project would also help Pakistan in terms of energy. This was widely appreciated by the members.
On the issue of terrorism, the consul-general said that both the countries had been facing the menace for quite some time, adding that this was a common threat from enemies who wanted to destroy the relations between the two countries.
Later, the leader of the house Asif Siddiqui welcomed the speech and goodwill gestures expressed by the consul-general and stressed the need for waging a joint war against the menace of terrorism.
The session was also addressed by opposition leaders Juman Darwan, Rafiq Ahmad, Dr Ziauddin, Begum Shamim Waseih and treasury leader Arshad Qureshi.
Ms Jalil presented a memento and a collection of poetic verses of Imam Khomeini in Urdu to the guest speaker.
Opposition leader Rafiq Ahmad also presented a copy of the Holy Quran to the guest.
Earlier, when the house started its proceedings, Fateha was offered for the departed souls of those who had died in the recent bomb blasts in Iran and the city of Peshawar in Pakistan.
Later, the convener adjourned the session for an indefinite period.
