January 28, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 27, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 27: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on Friday said that process of shifting inter-provincial bus termini, truck stands and warehouses outside the city on Northern Bypass had started.

Talking to delegations of foreign investors who separately called on him at his office, Mustafa Kamal observed that industrial and business activities had increased due to improvement law and order.

Citing example of increasing industrial activities, he told the delegation that there had been only six industrial units three years back at Nooriabad industrial zone established some 30 years ago, but now it had 68 units and there was no space available there for further units.

He said that Karachi’s environment was conducive for investment, as works were underway for infrastructure development, particularly industrial infrastructure, adding that skilled labour was also easily available in Karachi as compared to other cities of the country.

He said that revamping of water and sewerage lines would be followed by construction of roads at international standards, while 100-mgd extra water supply by the end of March this year would cater to water needs of the city to a great extent.

The nazim told the delegation that nearly half of the total motorcycles in the country were plying only in Karachi, while daily 300 new vehicles were being registered in the city. “This is manifestation of growing economic and business activities in Karachi,” he added.

Emphasizing on better public-private partnership, he assured that the city government would work with private sector as a team for augmenting economic activities and said that uniform policy was being adopted for both local and foreign investors in this regard.

He further said that there was a need of 8,000 large CNG buses in the metropolis, while other projects planned so far included five-star hotel, mass transit corridor, circular railway, power generation units, flyovers, multi-storey car parking. He invited local and foreign investors for these projects.

Mr Kamal said that the city government was also planning to cater residential needs of the citizens and cited example of Taesar Town where 23,000 plots would be allotted following a draw recently held. He told the guests that town planning had been started and it would cater residential needs of middle class people.

The delegations comprised high officials of international financial institutions and representatives and officials of various large corporations and companies of the world.

Meanwhile, the City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Friday imposed a ban on the entry of unauthorised persons to all men and women colleges of the city.

The city nazim issued directives to authorities concerned to maintain discipline and a better environment in educational institutes.

In this connection, uniform has been made mandatory for all college students, he said.

He asked college vigilance committees to play an active role in this regard and take measures to ensure punctuality by students and take notice of their absence.—PPI