KARACHI, Dec 17: President Musharraf has commended the contribution of the City Nazim Naimatullah Khan for the development process of the metropolis.

He was speaking as chief guest on the ground breaking ceremony of development and rehabilitation of Mai Kolachi and M.A. Jinnah roads here on Friday.

The president told the gathering that the original idea of Karachi Package was put forward by Naimatullah Khan. "Let me put the record straight, Naimatullah Saheb had suggested that there is a way of doing this," he said.

General Musharraf said then he thought of coming to Karachi and convening a meeting of all the stakeholders like Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Steel Mills, Export Promotion Bureau and bankers etc.

He said, "Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad also joined in the discussion and we decided that the meeting of all the stakeholders be convened at a single place - the Governor's House here in Karachi."

The president said he informed the nazim that he would come next month and that Naimatullah Khan should come up with a presentation at the place where the corporations were located and the roads they were using, they would be asked to bring about improvements of these and if needed be the flyovers would be constructed.

That was the origination of this very idea," he added while referring to the evolution of Karachi Package, which resulted in major development of the city. -APP