12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 11: The city government will construct 490 transit bus shelters on built, operate and transfer basis for which four companies have inked agreements.

This was announced by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Thursday night while inaugurating the first bus shelter constructed at Sharea Faisal under the Urban Transport Scheme of city government.

Separate waiting rooms and toilets have been constructed for male and female commuters besides tele-booth, tuck shop and other facilities at this shelter. Naimatullah Khan said that out of four signatories the United Construction Company had started the construction work on bus shelters.

"It gives me great pleasure when some one steps forward to improve infrastructure of the city," he added. He noted that there was no public toilet system in the city. In view of growing public complaints in this regard, he added, separate toilets were being constructed at bus shelters.

The tuck shops being constructed at bus shelters would be handed over to handicapped people so that they could earn their livelihood, he said. He further said that the traffic system of the city was irregular and there was a dire need to bring in large size buses, which would provide comfortable facility to the masses.

For improving the traffic system, he said that strict measures would be taken to ensure that drivers and conductors deal with commuters nicely and politely and traffic rules are followed.

He said it was noticed that drivers of buses, coaches and minibuses even the UTS buses used to stop their vehicles in middle of the road causing traffic jams. The nazim observed that operating large size buses would be futile if drivers of the UTS buses got indulge in violation of traffic laws.

"The city government want to bring a revolutionary change in traffic culture of Karachi," he remarked. Recalling that the former provincial transport minister had directed the transport department to establish bus terminals and resolve problems of transporters, Naimatullah Khan said that the city government would soon construct four bus terminals.

Meanwhile, the development work was inaugurated at Shaheed Luqman Baig School in Union Council No 7 of Landhi Town on Friday. Addressing the gathering at the foundation stone laying ceremony, City Nazim Naimatullah Khan said that education was given the top priority and the city government had earmarked 31 per cent of the budget for its promotion.

He said that the progress of any country was not possible without education and asked people to give suggestions for upgrading schools in their respective areas. He assured that their suggestions would be incorporated in the next budget.

LIFEGUARDS TRAINING: A team of New Zealand experts will impart rescue training to lifeguards at Hawkesbay with modern methods and equipment. This was stated by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan while awarding certificates to divers and swimmers who underwent lifeguard training at French Beach here on Friday.

The ceremony was also addressed by the New Zealand swimmer, Hugh Roberts; District Officer Fire Brigade and Civil Defence, Lt Col (retd) Ehteshamuddin; Deputy Chief Fire Officer Naeem Yusuf; and UC Nazim Mubarak Sangho Baloch.

Addressing the ceremony, Naimatullah Khan pointed out that Karachi was founded by the ancestors of fishermen of coastal areas, however, the fishermen at present were unable to catch fish due to presence of big fish trawlers. He stressed that alternative ways should be explored for local fishermen.

He pledged that he would invite all the fishermen of Karachi living in coastal areas and islands to a function so that their problems could be solved. Mr Khan said that the experts from New Zealand had chalked out a programme to train lifeguards for which youth from coastal villages of Karachi would be selected.

Speaking on the occasion, Hugh Roberts said that Pakistanis would be imparted training on New Zealand, the United States and Australian standards. He said that 175 people were trained in the first phase, including 42 from city government and 10 from Navy and the remaining young men belong to Hawkesbay villages. He maintained that out of 175 divers, the standard of 60 was very good.

Mr Roberts said he was under the impression before coming to Pakistan that there would not be good divers here. However, he claimed that after two weeks of training he drew the conclusion that Pakistanis had high potential of learning.

Commenting on the present situation at the beaches, Col Ehtesham said that there were only 48 lifeguards to rescue the drowning people along 33kms long coastal belt. -PPI/APP