KARACHI, Aug 8: The city government has initiated the preparation of Master Plan 2020 under the directive of President Musharraf and supervision of Sindh Local Government Adviser Waseem Akhtar.
At a ceremony here on Monday, an agreement was signed between the City District Government of Karachi and M/s ECIL, local consultants who in collaboration of foreign consultants will carry out this vital project.
Addressing a press conference on the occasion, Sindh Local Government Adviser Waseem Akhtar said that the Master Plan would be formulated in six months at a cost of Rs57.621 million.
He said that the consultant had been chosen after going through a long process of selection which included expression of interest through press; pre-qualification of firms; issuance of letter of invitation to pre-qualified firms; evaluation of technical and financial proposals by highly technical and qualified committees.
Highlighting the objectives of the project, he said that it would strengthen urban planning process with provision of adequate potable water, educational, health, transport and recreational facilities to the citizens. Provision of alternatives to katchi abadies in view of EIA of the locality; sufficient and affordable lands to cater to housing needs of all income groups; effective road network and other means of communication; introducing most modern garbage collection covering the whole population of the city, and growth of industrial areas and free trade zones were some other objectives of the project, he added.
Waseem Akhtar said that the consultant as per agreement would undertake the following tasks:
• Evaluation of all previous master plans of Karachi.
• Initiate development potential within and around the city.
• Population profile, size, structure, spatial distribution.
• Economical prospects for industrial development.
• Review of the housing polices and programmes.
• Review of road widening schemes considering the future requirements.
• Flyovers and missing road links.
• New source of water supply.
• Sewerage system in the city with review of existing facilities and deficiencies suggesting sites for sewerage treatment plants. Reuse of treated wastewater in irrigation plantation.
• Transportation and traffic management study.
• Reports on existing and required health, potable water, education and recreational facilities for the next 15 years.
• Revitalization of old city areas.
• Institutional setup for the implementation of Master Plan-2020.
• Study of draft Regional and Town Planning Act 1972, Karachi Physical Planning Act (Draft), Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 and Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations-2002 to ascertain legal basis of undertaking planning exercise and its approval by the city government.
• Incorporation of ongoing mega projects in the Proposed Master Plan.
• Environmental impact assessment of the entire master plan projects/schemes.
The local government adviser said that land use survey and socio-economic survey would be carried out under the project. Besides, computerized database comprising zonal profile of each union council with mathematical models of population, land use, infrastructure, finances and environment would be prepared.
Waseem Akhtar pointed out that the outcome would provide overall guidance for the formulation of Town Master Plan and framing of development schemes and projects for the city in a coordinated manner. He said that it would arrest further deterioration of the area while improving the quality of life.
He said that a detailed database would be established on the basis of zonal profiles of 178 union councils. This would enable line agencies to know in which area their intervention was urgently required. He pointed out that the staff under the EDO Master Plan Group of Offices had been assigned to work closely with the consultants and monitor the quality of data collected.
The adviser accused the former city government of being incompetent to initiate the formulation of much awaited Master Plan. He alleged that the previous city government could not undertake the project because of internal differences between the coordinators.
EDO Master Plan Ateeq Baig said that a coordination group comprising representatives of all concerned group of offices and line agencies would soon be formed. Similarly, he said, “technical committees” would be set for evaluation and guidance during the sector plan preparation.
He said a series of seminars would also be organized for community participation to help them understand the status of Karachi Master Plan 2020, its philosophy adopted in the planning process, its institutional framework and financial implication, and in order to open a dialogue through which the plan might be refined.—APP
KARACHI, Aug 8: The city government has initiated the preparation of Master Plan 2020 under the directive of President Musharraf and supervision of Sindh Local Government Adviser Waseem Akhtar.
