KARACHI, March 31: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Thursday laid the foundation stones of three primary and one double-shift high schools in North Karachi Town.

The Nazim of North Karachi Town, Shafiq-ur-Rahman Usmani, Adviser to City Nazim on Education Naseem Siddiqui and city government’s education department officials were also present.

The three government primary schools would be constructed in North Karachi sectors 5-E, 8 and 11-L, and the double-shift high school at Sector 11-C.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Niamat directed the contractors to complete the school buildings before schedule so that classes could be started from the new academic session.

He maintained that the city government was trying to promote education in the city, and for that purpose, a large chunk of the city budget – 31 per cent – had been allocated for education for the fist time in the country’s history.

The city nazim directed the town nazims to identify illiterate children in their areas, get them enrolled in schools, and provide them with books and other reading material so they could get education.

He said it was his dream to see a literate Pakistan, adding that despite paucity of funds the city government would continue establishing educational institutions so that not even a single child remained out of school.

The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Thursday also laid the foundation stone of a model park in North Karachi, Sector-8. The park will be completed in two months.

The nazim on the occasion said the city government was striving hard to resolve issues facing Karachiites. Efforts in this regard were being made to strengthen the city’s basic infrastructure, he said, adding that roads, flyovers, roundabouts were being constructed.

To overcome the shortage of water, an agreement had been signed with a US company for installation of two desalination plants, he said. Similarly, the K-III project, aimed at providing 100 mgd extra water to Karachi was near completion while the K-IV project had been planned to fetch more water, he added.

Mr Niamat maintained that an agreement with an Austrian company had also been inked for installation of a sewerage treatment plant. Water treated there would be provided to industries in the SITE industrial area.

Giving details of development works carried out in North Karachi, he said installation of traffic signals at the UP moar would be completed in the next three months. A fire brigade station was also being established there.

The nazim claimed to never have made a promise left unfulfilled, saying telling lies was an unpardonable sin. “I never make promises, which I can’t keep.” He said he upheld the principles of transparency, trust and honesty.

Speaking on the occasion, Town Nazim North Karachi Shafiq-ur-Rahman Usmani said tenders had been awarded for construction of roads, which included a road from Manghopir to New Karachi.

He said 18 roads would be constructed at a cost of Rs180 million for which tenders would be invited in April.—PPI