KARACHI, Dec 15: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Wednesday appreciating the remarkable job done by women councillors said that responsibilities of women had increased manifold under the local government system.

Speaking at the Women Councillors Convention held at the Al-Markaz-i-Islami, he termed the services of women councillors appreciable and said others should follow suit.

About development projects in the city, he said the city government had made progress by initiating construction of roads, resolution of water and sewerage problems, elimination of pollution, establishment of new colleges, projects of greenery, flyovers, underpasses and pedestrian bridges.

He said that work on around 15 mega projects in the city was on at a fast pace and these would be completed in the next six to eight months. Speaking about the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases (KIHD), he said there was only one cardiac hospital, which too was located in a corner of the city.

And a number of patients suffering from cardiac diseases die on their ways to the hospital, he observed. In view of the miseries of people, the city government decided to establish a cardiac institute in Federal B. Area, so that emergency treatment could be provided to patients.

"The city government has released Rs30 million to purchase latest equipment for the institute," he informed. He hoped that it would benefit people of Liaquatabad, Gulberg, Orangi, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Gulshan and other towns of the city.

In addition, he said the city government was setting up eight chest pain centres, where emergency first aid treatment would be provided to cardiac patients. These would be equipped with latest equipment, doctors and ambulances.

MNA Ayesha Munawwar said it was the need of time to continue with the new local government system for sustainable process of development. "The change of government should not affect the system because people need it," she added.

The Women Councillor Convention adopted many recommendations. It called for giving due place to women in society as per the injunctions laid by Allah. Women councillors should be respected, as it was their basic right, it was observed.

While giving responsibilities to women councillors, it should be ensured that their family life should not get disturbed. They should be given transport at the UC, town and city levels, and provided offices, staff and other necessary facilities, said a resolution.

Workshops and training seminars should be held for women councillors on the government-level. It was also observed that honorarium be given to the local government representatives with arrears to the UC and town councillors. The Chairman Education Committee, City government, Rehana Afroze, also spoke. -PPI