12 September 2004	Sunday	26 Rajab 1425

KARACHI, Sept 11: The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, has reiterated his commitment not to compromise on the principles of merit, transparency, and accountability to ensure that Karachiites are provided all basic civic facilities besides right to quality education, health and environment.

Addressing a session, arranged by the City District Government Karachi media personnel on Saturday, the nazim also expressed deep gratitude to committed citizens who volunteered to help materialise his vision for Karachi.

In this regard, he specifically hailed the zeal of 110 honorary teachers serving in various city government colleges and producing much better results than many other colleges including those in the private sector.

"It is just that public confidence has to be built on the commitment and honesty of their respective representatives as well as the authorities," he said.

According to him, it was after getting adequately sensitised about the requirements and liabilities of the city that, he for the first time in the history of Karachi came forward with a massive budget of Rs20.2 billion for the fiscal 2002-03, which was raised to Rs 27 billion for the fiscal 2003-04, and Rs32 billion for the current fiscal 2004-05.

The budgets approved for three consecutive years were all development and public service-oriented, and significant achievements had been made in this regard, he said, mentioning that Karachi in the past never had a budget exceeding Rs5 billion.

The nazim reminding that health and education were among his top priorities also mentioned that it was he who despite all sorts of pressures managed to abolish the self-finance policy previously in vogue in city colleges, which he termed, was at the cost of merit.

"At one point of time, I was told that Rs500 million were collected under the very head of self-finance scheme, yet I directed this amount to be refunded as it would be at the cost of merit," he said.

Even recently, the attempt made to open the door for non-deserving candidates under the plea of sports quota was also resisted, the nazim continued, mentioning that he even acquired the support of the Sindh governor in this regard.

Mr Khan, responding to strong reservations about police, said the segment generally ignored was also extended due consideration on part of the city government, and libraries were being developed in all police stations across the city.

Till date, libraries had been developed in some 60 police stations, where books related to Islamic teachings and translations of the holy book had been provided, he said expecting that it may help modify the attitude of police staffers.

He also highlighted significance of the media, mentioning that he, on basis of the news reports ensured to correct and rectify the wrong committed by any of the city government authorities.

The Chairperson, city government, Education Committee, Rehana Afroze, in her welcome address said three years of experience had made the entire team reach to the conclusion that success in its truest sense could be attained only through modified public behaviour and inculcation of a collective sense of responsibility.

Elaborating her statement, she mentioned that while proper garbage sites had been developed in the city, heaps of garbage could still be witnessed around the bins and not within them.

A step, Afroze said, had been taken in this regard to make attempts to sensitize children who, in the next few years time, would be contributors towards the city's development.

Programmes had been chalked out to incorporate lessons related to traffic rules, civic responsibilities, environment and significance of law in the school curricula, she said.

Rehana, referring to the performance of government school students of the city, said that it was for the first time that these students were sent to Japan and other countries as representatives of Pakistan, and they had proved their mettle.

The Adviser to city nazim, Engr Izhar ul Haq, in his presentation on city government's development activities in 2004 said, the city which frequently had been exposed to water scarcity was pulled out of the crisis through concerted efforts.

According to him, the water shortage was mainly due to the fact that 45 per cent of the available commodity was either stolen or was lost due to the faulty supply system.

It was against a cost of Rs500 million that obsolete and leaking pipelines were being replaced, while a feasibility report on K-4 was also under process to enhance water availability in the city.

The adviser claimed that to reduce traffic pressure on city's roads, terminals were being built on the Super Highway, Indus Highway and RCD Highway. Bus terminals were also said to be built at 32 different sites throughout the metropolis.

The construction of parking plazas was also said to be part of the very scheme, he said, adding that one was in the process of completion near Uzma Arcade, Clifton, followed by another one at Saddar.

Mr Izhar said that a scheme was also said to be started for construction of 470 bus shelters across the city. He added that a few had already been completed on Sharea Faisal, and some had even been provided with tuck shops, with owners being obliged to hire the services of physically disabled people there.

The construction of a series of flyovers at major city areas such as Hasan Square, Sohrab Goth, Hino Chowk (Korangi), Old Exhibition Area, Five Star Chowrangi, Nagan Chowrangi, Johar More and other areas besides traffic development work at various major intersections were also said to be in the pipeline.

In this regard, compulsory driving training of public vehicle drivers at designated city government schools was also said to be introduced as a mandatory requirement for all those managing and driving public transport in Karachi.

About 30 elevated thoroughfares besides underground trains were also part of the city government's Mass Transit Scheme for Karachi.

The adviser said that a public park at the seaside would be completed within a six months time. Besides, streetlights worth Rs200 million were also being installed.

The development of an agro-farm was also part of the development schemes, envisaged by the city government. This was meant to provide quality milk and meat to Karachiites.

In a three year's time, the city government was said to have already built more than 200 parks, while the ongoing work on Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim and Gutter Baghicha was said to be completed in the next six months. Similarly, the Askari Park at the site of the old Sabzi Mandi was also under completion with the support of the Pakistan Army, he informed.

A scheme had also been envisaged for revitalization of the Jheel and the Aziz Bhatti parks, he maintained.

Among others, the briefing was attended by advisors to the city nazim Ansar Razi, Shehla Inayatullah and Safia Malik. - APP