November 16, 2003	Sunday	Ramazan 20, 1424

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HYDERABAD, Nov 15: The cost of the proposed development plan of Hyderabad has exceeded the budget of the package announced by the president and prime minister due to the number of schemes submitted by MNAs, MPAs and taluka Nazims of the district.

This was observed at a meeting held at the district Nazim office here on Saturday to scrutinize the schemes.

The meeting was informed that against the amount of Rs6.5 billion, the cost of submitted water supply and drainage schemes was estimated at Rs8.5 billion. Similarly against the amount of Rs1 billion for construction of roads and two flyover bridges, the cost was estimated at over Rs1.59 billion.

District Nazim Makhdoom Rafiqquzaman, who presided over the meeting, said development schemes proposed by MNAs, MPAs and taluka Nazims had been received by the district government which were being scrutinized to avoid any duplication and fix priorities for works.

He said efforts would be made to get more funds or to complete the remaining schemes from the Annual Development Programme, Khushhal Pakistan Programme and funds of the district and Sindh governments.

He said the Thar Coal Authority would be asked to construct Hyderabad bypass-Mirpurkhas link road and the Sindh government the road from Kotri Bridge to Qasim Chowk.

The Nazim further said the beautification plan with the estimated cost of Rs200 million could be dropped so that more important infrastructure schemes could be completed to ensure sustainable development in the city.

He asked the officers of different departments to coordinate among themselves and adopt an integrated strategy to reduce the cost of the project.

Mr Rafiqquzaman said a feasibility report regarding schemes of gas and electrification of villages should be submitted in a week.

He also asked the taluka Nazims and the officers of different departments to finalize their schemes in two to three days to discuss and finalize the same at a meeting of the project steering committee.

DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed, Hyderabad Development Authority director-general Ali Ahmad Lund, Water and Sanitation Agency managing director Tahir Ahmad, Public Health Engineering superintending engineer Mohammad Siddiq Jalalani, City Taluka Nazim Moinuddin Shaikh, Latifabad Taluka Nazim Abdul Jabbar Khan, Qasimabad Taluka Nazim Noor Mohammad Shoro, Tando Allahyar Taluka Nazim Abid Yousufani, EDO, works and communication, EDO, planning and other officers attended the meeting.

HOLIDAY: On the orders of District Nazim Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed has notified that 21st Ramazan (Nov 17) will be holiday in the district on account of Yaum-i-Shahdat-i-Hazrat Ali (R.A).

However, this order would not apply to the offices of the federal government departments.