KARACHI, Sept 3: President Pervez Musharraf said here on Tuesday that a number of mega projects worth billions of rupees for Karachi were being implemented at an exemplary fast pace and many of them were progressing ahead of schedule.
“We have allocated billions of rupees for Sindh to ensure its fast development in priority sectors and this should offset the impression, if any, that Sindh is being ignored”.
He was addressing a select gathering which comprised Nazims and Naib Nazims of Sindh, industrialists, businessmen, intellectuals, editors, senior journalists and women representing various walks of life at the Governor’s House. Governor Mohammedmian Soomro, Corps Commander Tariq Waseem Ghazi, provincial ministers, and the Sindh chief secretary and senior Sindh government officials were also present.
The president said the projects reviewed include the Northern Bypass which is progressing well, and the Lyari Expressway which is also going well and specially the resettlement of the people who were being shifted from slums.
He said it was unfortunate that adverse reports are projected some time in the media as if something wrong was being done.
He said the people who are being shifted from these slums had been living in hutments on the bed of Lyari river in a pathetic condition amid garbage and faced difficulties when the river flooded. They are being allotted 80 square yards plots, with cash Rs 50,000.
These people will come out of unhealthy conditions and rehabilitated at a place where they will have schools, dispensaries, electricity, sewerage, Sui gas and other facilities and they will have ownership of their houses and still if it is being projected adversely, it is unfortunate.
He then referred to review made with regard to 100 mgd K-III water supply project for Karachi and said on completion, the water supply problem of Karachi would be resolved to a great extent.
He described the progress made, so far, as satisfactory and recalled that the foundation of all these three projects was laid by him.
President Pervez Musharraf also spoke about the FTC and Sharea Faisal flyover projects and said work on these projects was going on as per schedule.
He said the meeting also reviewed the much demanded Right Bank Outfall Drain Project which would save Manchar lake from pollution caused by the fall of effluents of other provinces into it as a result of which some 100,000 fishermen had become displaced.
He said that the initial cost of the project was estimated at Rs 116 billion before his government came in. He said that when he took over, the project cost came down to Rs 76 billion. He said that he asked the Pakistan army to evaluate the project cost and it was further brought down to Rs 14 billion after a six month study.
He said that work on this project was going on and when completed it would carry effluent to sea which would help the rehabilitation of Manchar Lake.
The president said another project reviewed was regarding Reni Canal between Sukkur and Kotri barrages which the government wants to implement at a cost of Rs 12 to 15 billion. However, in view of some disputes over its feasibility, he had a meeting with the concerned Nazims during an interaction with them, he listened to their observations and removed their misgivings about the project which when implemented would meet the water requirements of three districts of Sindh.
He said Thar coal was another important project which was reviewed at a meeting. He said work on this project had started and the area from Islam Kot to Mitthi and Naukot which leads to Nagarparkar is now giving an improved look.
He said under this project, the world’s biggest coal reserves were being explored and the same would be used for operation of coal-fired power plants being set up with the Chinese assistance.
The President said that another Chinese team was coming to Pakistan on Sept 5 and this project was on track when initially we would have a 300 mw power unit here.
He said have taken water to that remote area, electricity is being taken, roads being built and railway line will be laid later, while an air strip is under construction.
The President said like Karakoram Highway which stands today as symbol of 50 years of Pak-China friendship, the Thar Coal and Gawadar Port project would also serve as symbol of unflinching friendship between Pakistan and China.
