KARACHI, April 1: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan said on Friday that more desalination plants would be set up in Karachi to meet increasing needs of water in the city.
He said the companies, which would provide water on low rates would be considered for setting up desalination plants.
The nazim stated this while discussing the setting up of desalination plant at coastal areas of Karachi, with the delegation of a Denmark-based Nordi Communication Company, at his office, here.
The delegation informed that the plant had the capacity of desalinating 24MG of seawater and could be installed within six months. It said the site for the plant had been selected at the coastal belt of Karachi.
The delegates assured the nazim that the plant in question would pose no threat to the environment or marine life and showed him the maps of the plant.
Mr Khan said the Karachiites were facing shortage of drinking water and the city government had decided to start a K-III project for the provision of water besides setting up desalination plants and in this regard, an agreement had been signed with a US-based company.
US DELEGATION: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is planning to set up six mass transit corridors (MTC) to provide better transport facilities to people as there is no mass transit system in the city and few thousands old buses and mini-buses plying on roads could not cater to the needs of Karachiites.
An agreement has been made with a US company for the construction of Sohrab Goth- Tower MTC while reliable companies would be welcomed for other five corridors on BOT basis.
The CDGK is also considering launching a tram service in densely populated commercial areas of the city.
This was stated by City Nazim Niamatullah Khan on Friday while talking to a five-member US delegation, which called on him at the CDGK Secretariat.
The delegation comprised the consul-general of US in Karachi, Fredric W. Stern, TERA International Group, Inc. President Asil Gezen, Vice-president James P. Rizer and others.
The Director General of Mass Transit Project, Malik Zaheerul Islam, held a presentation and gave details of the six MTCs.
He said that nearly 14,000 passengers travel, from one place to another, in downtown areas of the city while number of cars, motorcycles and other vehicles were increasing with a ratio of 700 vehicles per day.
Mr Islam also highlighted the mass transit systems of Manila, Shanghai and Delhi.
The nazim pointed out that the mass transit project was essential for the city owing to its increasing population.
He observed that ties between Pakistan and US were growing stronger and the US companies would be welcomed for mass transit project on BOT basis.
The US delegation expressed keen interest in the said project and discussed with the city nazim various related issues.
The meeting decided that the US company would submit Terms of Reference (TOR) in this regard to the CDGK within 15 days.—PPI
