KARACHI: Rs29bn city package to benefit many: Ibad
KARACHI, Aug 25: The Sindh cabinet ministers and advisors were briefed in detail about the latest progress with regard to the Rs29 billion "Tameer-e-Karachi" package at a high-level meeting
held under the chairmanship of Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at the Governor House on Wednesday.
Besides ministers and advisors, the briefing was also attended by Nazim Karachi Naimatullah Khan, Naib-Nazim Tariq Hasan, Chief Secretary Aslam Sanjrani, Additional Chief Secretaries Ghulam Sarwar Khehro and Mohammed Saleem Khan, DCO Karachi Mir Hussain Ali, Project Director, LERP Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, Secretary Finance, Israr Malik and other officials.
In his opening remarks, the governor described the development plan a mega package and said that Karachi had remained neglected in the past and this package was a gift from President Pervez Musharraf, which spoke about his interest in Karachi.
He said completion of the package would not only benefit the people of Karachi, but those of entire Sindh and Pakistan as well. The DCO Karachi made a detailed briefing on the salient features of the package, the progress achieved so far, and the future planning.
He pointed out that out of the Rs29 billion meant for the package, the City District Government Karachi had contributed Rs6 billion, to be spent over a period of four years.
He listed major ongoing projects, their numbers and allocations for the same as; road (17) Rs682 million, flyovers (two) Rs100 million, sewerage (41) Rs141 million, water supply (13) Rs75 million, besides two consultancies costing Rs8 million.
He informed that projects being processed included roads (nine), bridges (14), flyovers/underpasses (four), sewerage (20), water supply (15) and a project of solid waste management involving the setting up of six transfer stations.
During the briefing, the DCO informed that on the directive of President Pervez Musharraf, special attention was being paid to Lyari, adding that a special programme for Lyari had been devised which included construction of four main roads costing Rs38 million, 22 sewerage schemes worth Rs61 million, 13 schemes of water supply worth Rs23 million, and two schemes of sewerage/drainage worth Rs8 million.
On the occasion, the DCO informed the meeting in detail about the development works being sponsored by stakeholders. These included KPT's flyover at Hino Chowk, road from Mai Kolachi up to Submarine roundabout, M.A. Jinnah Road from Keamari to Tibet Centre and M.T. Khan Road.
The EPZA schemes included road from the National Highway to Shahrah-e-Mehran and a road from Shahrah-e-Mehran up to Port Qasim. The DCO informed that Pakistan Steel would construct a flyover at Quaidabad, and a link road connecting the National Highway with the Super Highway.
Mir Hussain said the State Bank and commercial banks would undertake rehabilitation of I.I. Chundrigar Road. The EPB had been assigned with the construction of Road-9000 in Korangi Industrial area, while the bureau would also undertake rehabilitation of the industrial areas of Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi and F.B. Area.
Similarly, the PIA would construct University Road. The governor directed the DCO that breakup of major development schemes and other schemes being processed for implementation should be provided in writing to ministers and advisors within 10 days.
Mr Ibad reiterated the need for the beautification of entry into Karachi at Sohrab Goth, to which the NHA officials said that consultants has been appointed in this regard. The governor called for coordinated efforts for removal of bottlenecks in the construction of the Lyari Expressway.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Ibad emphasised that all organizations associated with the package should play a proactive role. He asked the DCO to add more road and sewerage schemes worth Rs50 million in the Lyari development plan. - APP
