KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief Monem Zafar Khan has said that construction and rehabilitation work of over 1,005 streets and roads has been commenced in Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town under JI's administration.Addressing a press conference at the Town Office along with JI East District chief Naeem Akhtar and Town Chairman Dr. Fawad, here on Tuesday, he said under the project, asphalt and paver blocks would be laid on 10.3 million square feet of roads.He said work was also underway on projects for sports facilities, youth centres, model dispensaries, parks, model markets, urban forests and development of playgrounds for youth.He said steps were being taken to convert KDA Market into a model market and to improve Dhoraji Market, adding that Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town would be made truly green.Despite lack of powers and resources, JI had completed re-carpeting of 42 roads and carpeting of around one million square feet of roads during the last three years in Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, he said, adding that two yo uth centres and two model neighbourhoods had been built, thousands of streetlights installed and various development projects including restoration of parks completed.He said over Rs90 million had been spent for welfare of town employees and payment of their medical, pension, bonus and other dues.He said damaged vehicles, snorkels, tractor-trolleys and other machinery handed over to the town had been repaired and restored.He said a water supply project had been completed at a cost of Rs200 million, adding that unless local bodies were empowered, a permanent solution to basic problems of the people was not possible.He said JI's clear stance was that empowered local governments should be established across the country, including Karachi.He said JI would live up to the trust reposed in it by the people of Karachi.Monem Zafar said record development work was also carried out in the area during the mayorship of Naimatullah Khan. Construction of Rashid Minhas Road and other roads was among the prominent works of that period, which were still in excellent condition.He said JI had always used available resources honestly and as a trust for public service.He said in the 2005 local government elections too, the people of Gulshan-i-Iqbal had expressed confidence in the leadership of JI, but results were changed and Gulshan Town was occupied. Despite that, JI continued its public service and was still working beyond its resources and powers.He said Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town was currently facing several problems. In the past, Gulshan Town comprised 13 union councils, while now it was limited to eight union committees. More than three years had passed since the local government was established, but no substantial increase had been made in the amount of Octroi Zila Tax (OZT). During the first two years, the town had spent about Rs70 million from its own resources for payment of salaries of employees. It was not fair to expect local bodies to solve public problems without providing them adequate resources.The JI le ader said University Road passing through the middle of Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town had been dug up in the name of the Red Line BRT project, which had severely affected the entire area. The project, started in 2021, was to be completed in October 2023, but it had not been completed yet. Different dates had been given by the provincial government and the transport minister, but the project did not seem to be completed even in the next three years, he said.University Road was previously a good road which had been dug up and created difficulties for citizens. If it was rebuilt now, it would be restoration of an already existing road and not completion of a new project, he added.He said in 2019, JI's Public Aid Committee had run a vigorous campaign for construction of University Road, as a result of which construction work was completed. Today, once again, citizens were facing dilapidated roads, traffic jams and difficulties in commuting.He said 45 days were given for construction of Suheba Akhtar Road, but work h ad not been completed even after more than five months. Similarly, there was an extraordinary delay in construction and rehabilitation of N. K. Road, Salahuddin Road, Shabbir Usmani Road and Rashid Minhas Road, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).Secretary Information Zahid Askari, Vice Chairman Ibrahim Siddiqui, chairmen of union committees and other elected representatives were also present on the occasion.