KARACHI: Development work at Taiser Town in full swing
KARACHI, June 19: About 80 per cent work of laying of water supply lines has been completed from the North East Karachi filter plant to Taiser Town, the second resettlement site of those affected by the Lyari Expressway project.
So far, some 24,000 ft of the 18 inch-dia pipeline had been laid while work on raising pillars for the pipeline, to be carried through low lying areas, was in progress and would be completed by Sept 15.
This was stated in a briefing given to the Chief, Planning and Development (P&D) Division, Islamabad, Asif Shaikh, by the project director of the expressway at the project site on Sunday.
Mr Shaikh, who is here to monitor the project, visited the third resettlement site along the Hub River road in Badia Town, besides Taiser Town, adjoining to Gulshan-i-Maymar, and at Surjani Town, and reviewed the progress of resettlement and development works there.
He was told that so far 14,037 families had been given allotment orders, while being apprised that the first phase of rehabilitation work launched two years back at Hawkesbay was nearing completion.
The Hawkesbay site had 4,909 plots for displaced families and some 4,700 had been issued allotment orders.
While at the second phase of rehabilitation underway at Taiser Town, over 9,500 families had been given 80 sq-yd plots and Rs50,000 each. Of these, some 6,500 families had built their homes and were living normal lives there while the remaining were too fast constructing their houses.
It was stated that construction markets had been set up to provide the local population building material at reduced prices.
Mr Shaikh was further told that a hawkers’ bazaar and shopping centres had also been built so that the local population could be provided job opportunities.
With regard to education, the P&D chief was told that 13 schools were functioning in the resettlement colonies while eight more schools would start from the new academic session.
Children in these schools were provided free textbooks and uniforms, while teachers for them had been appointed from the local population. They were also being paid honorarium.
Mr Shaikh was further informed that vocational training centres had also been opened in collaboration with the Baitul Mall where free training and scholarships were provided to students.
Similarly, girls were also taught sewing and embroidery at handicraft centres.
It was also said that the third phase of resettlement would soon begin at Baldia Town. Development work there was expected to be completed in two months. Work on the grid station, primary school, mini civic centre and dispensary had already been completed there.
The site at Baldia Town was spread over 145 acres where 2,924 plots had been earmarked for affected families.
Work on laying water supply pipeline at the site would start shortly at a cost of Rs120 million.—PPI/APP
