KARACHI: Mayor of Karachi Waseem Akhtar on Tuesday said he was in consultation with the Sindh government for more powers to the elected local government councils and expressed the hope that the issues would be resolved amicably without his going to the public for a mass movement.

`We hope the Sindh government will enhance our powers to enable us to serve the people, otherwise we`ll come to you to support our struggle [in streets],` said Mr Akhtar at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation`s old building while speaking to local leaders of various Sunni organisations who had been invited to discuss waysand means to ensure better law and order situation during Eid-iMiladun Nabi next month.

He said the city`s elected councillors would work in accordance with the expectations of the people if the mayor was accorded with powers that were enshrined in the constitution.

`We better know about the resources and issues of the city and despite being stripped of all powers we have started our endeavour to serve the people with all means possible,` he said.

He said he appreciated the Sindh government`s efforts in regaining the city`s glory, however, he added, the government should grant maximum powers to mayors and heads of other municipalities in Sindh to ensure that people were better served.He told the members of the religious parties, who turned up at the programme that their problems and suggestions, especially relating to garbage lifting and law and order, would be communicated to the provin-cial authorities who were looking into the matter.

Deputy Mayor Arshad Vohra appealed to the participants to help keep a vigilant eye on unscrupulous elements who wanted to disrupt peace and tranquillity in the city. He said the entire city council was firm in its resolve to serve the city.

The participants spoke about various problems they would face during Eid-i-Miladun Nabi processions, which included traffic management, power outages, security threats and administrative permissions for processions and religious programmes in the city.

They agreed with the mayor for his demand for more powers and assured him of their supportifit required to gofor public protests.