KARACHI, Oct 23: The city government will spend Rs130 million from Tameer-i-Karachi package for the improvement of water supply and sewerage systems.

Of the allocated fund, Rs90 million will be utilized for improving the existing sewerage lines and laying new lines while Rs40 million will be spent on water supply improvement.

This was stated by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan while speaking at the concluding ceremony of lease camps at Bhutta Village, Keamari Town on Friday. Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, Keamari Town Nazim Zulfiqar Yunus, UC Bhutta Village Nazim Dr Mohammed Saleem, Kutchi Abadis Committee's chairman Gohar Islam, District Officer (Kutchi Abadis) Razia Sultana, union councillors and area people were also present at the concluding ceremony.

Naimatullah Khan said that in order to overcome drinking water problem, the city government had recently signed an MoU for the installation of desalination plant while a 100mgd K-III water supply scheme is passing through the completion phases due to the personal interest of President Musharraf.

He told the gathering that ownership rights were being granted at very low rates through these lease camps, established in their areas. He said that after the completion of lease process, steps would be initiated for providing basic facilities in kutchi abadis. "We want to undo the differentiation prevailing between kutchi and pakki abadis," the nazim said.

He said that the city government had included Rs60 million water supply lines project of Keamari Town into the Karachi package.

Later addressing concluding ceremony of a lease camp established at Manzoor Colony, Naimatullah Khan pointed out that the applicants would not have to run after the officials, as all facilities were being provided at the lease camps.

He told the gathering that if anyone demanded gratification, the matter should be brought into his knowledge for immediate action.

The nazim said that the amount of development which took place in Karachi during the last three years, was never done in the past 50 years. He declared that the development that would take place in the next one year would even surpass the record of last three years.

He referred to the work being done on construction of roads, laying flyovers network, remodelling of roundabouts and construction of model parks. He said that the development had brought back the usual hustle and bustle of Karachi.

COTTAGE INDUSTRIAL ZONE: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said that development works will be initiated in Orangi cottage industrial zone and expressed hope that this will benefit hundreds of people in getting employment.