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KARACHI, May 28: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said that the City Government has not been transferred full powers under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) as a result of which difficulties are being faced in resolving civic problems.
He was presiding over a review meeting with the visiting delegation of World Bank at Civic Centre here on Friday. The meeting was attended by DCO Mir Hussain Ali, Country Director WB, John Wall, Senior Director Vigent Conarne, Oscar Alvarado and other officials.
Naimatullah Khan informed that there was no master plan for Karachi as a result of which problems are being faced in the provision of utility services. He emphasised that a master plan will have to be prepared for successful running of the city government.
He pointed out that the city government is a good system but it needs to be implemented in full. WB Senior Director Vigent Conarne briefed the meeting about his views of visit to the city and various projects.
He underlined the need for traffic management in Karachi. Giving example of Bogota, he informed that this city has bus lanes and buses ply at a speed of 20-30 mile an hour. He said bus lane is also needed in Karachi.
The Country Director John Wall called for conducive law and order situation for attracting investment and also stressed upon uniform building bye-laws for whole of Karachi. He said there is need for more buses under Urban Transport Scheme and viewed that Karachi immediately need 5,000 buses.
DCO Mir Hussain Ali said that foundation of City Government system will gain strength with the passage of time.
CHIEF SECRETARY: Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkal Kazi has said that the provincial government is trying to find out logical and scientific solution to the problems caused by haphazard expansion of population in Karachi.
He was talking to a delegation, led by World Bank's Country Director John Wall, which called on him at his office on Friday. He said that the government was keen to make comprehensive plan for solving the outlying problems of the city.
The chief secretary told the World Bank delegation that the reorganization of Karachi Building Control Authority was necessary for resolving the land issues. The representation of stake-holders like Karachi Port Trust, Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan International Airlines, Defence Housing Authority and Port Qasim Authority in the KBCA would help making it an effective and functional organization, he said.
Besides, he added, the authorities at federal level had also been requested to take effective steps in this regard. Regarding transport system, he comprehensively covered the proposals that could reform the Karachi transport system according to modern-day requirements. He told the delegation about revival of Karachi Circular Railway, introduction of modern tramway system and other such facilities.
Additional Chief Secretary on Local Government Mohammad Saleem Khan outlined certain traditional deficiencies in the existing transport system and the problems which were faced by commuters.
He pointed out that obsolete buses and problematic coaches and minibuses need replacement by modern buses so that people could get better travelling facilities at affordable fares.
Secretary Services and Works Ashfaq Hussain Memon stressed on new planning for city's development and association of experts and officials having comprehension about the problems.
Meanwhile, the WB mission presented some proposals in relation to finance, land management, water supply and sewerage system. The proposals for solid waste management and improvement in transport system were also presented in the meeting.
The delegation members included Senior Urban Specialist, Shahnaz Arshad; Senior Municipal Finance Specialist, Gaeme Lee; Senior Director South Asia Infrastructure, Vincent Gourne; and Transport Specialist Zafar Raja. -APP/PPI
