Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi assured a delegation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday that the promises made with the latter by his predecessor Nawaz Sharif would be fulfilled.

The delegation, headed by MQM-P chief Farooq Sattar, called on the PM at the Governor’s House in Karachi.

Abbasi said the government had approved a development package for Karachi and funds would released by the end of the ongoing month.

Abbasi directed the interior minister to review the MQM-P’s complaints about the arbitrary arrests of its activists and ensure that these cases were dealt with in a fair manner.

The PM said Karachi was the country’s economic capital and its development and peace were among the government’s top priorities.

The premier and the MQM-P agreed to set aside differences to strengthen democracy.

The MQM-P also complained to the PM about the provincial government’s lack of cooperation with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

Abbasi responded that district governments were an important component of the country’s democratic set-up and played a crucial role in its development.

He added that the provincial government would be asked to pay due attention to the local bodies.