KARACHI, Sept 9: The city government has decided to expedite the work on development projects being executed under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme extending the working hours.

Steps would be taken to ensure that the work continues even during the night.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held here the other day under the chairmanship of DCO Shafique Rahman Paracha.

The DCO informed the meeting that the Sindh chief secretary, K. B. Rind, in his recent visit to various localities of the city, had directed for an early completion of development schemes so that fourth phase of the KPP could be launched as per schedule.

Paracha said that the pace of work should not be slowed down except in case of rains or any other emergency. The meeting decided there should be an increased coordination with other provincial and federal government departments, civic bodies and towns so that bottlenecks faced by the executing agencies be removed.

Since the governor and City Nazim review the progress every month, the DCO directed that there must be a remarkable improvement till the next review meeting is held.

The priority should be attached to those schemes which are nearing completion so that arrangements could be made for their inauguration by the governor, he emphasized.

The meeting decided to maintain a record of construction material available, including that of iron, stones, earth etc. already available and also procured later. In future, the PC-I of the development projects would also contain this estimate, meeting further decided.

The DCO took serious note of hardships faced by the people due to excavation at Grax village. The meeting was informed that residents of the area face hardships owing to lack of coordination among concerned departments.

The digging of road by certain civic agencies cause traffic jams in the area. In view of the situation, a committee headed by EDO Works Brig. Zaheer Qadri, with a representative of Army Monitoring Team and the City Nazim, was constituted to submit a report in this respect in next meeting.

The meeting was informed that project of Shahrah-e-Mehran (UC-89 to cattle colony) would be completed by next month at a cost of Rs.148.88 million. Over 93 per cent of the work has so far been completed.

As regards Rashid Minhas Road project from Sharea Faisal to Drive-In Cinema, it was informed that 55 per cent work had been completed and the entire project would be completed by Feb 12, 2003. Shahrah-i-Chishti (from Banaras Chowk to Abdullah College roundabout) is expected to be completed in eight months. The pace of work on this project is slow due to leakage of water and shifting of phone, gas lines and removal of encroachments. It was further informed that 83 per cent work of channelization of Manzoor Colony drain has been completed. The DCO directed the officials of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board to undertake the work on a priority basis.

—PPI