KARACHI, April 26: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has said that the city government would construct shopping malls in various areas in collaboration with a German enterprise on public-private partnership basis.He stated this while talking to a delegation of German investors at his office. Burno Legender of Carrefour (German company), EDO Revenue Saleh Farooqi, EDO Finance Roshan Ali Shaikh and EDO Master Plan Iftekhar Qaimkhani were also present.
The delegation informed the nazim that they planned shopping malls in Karachi like those in Dubai and other developed countries for which they would need land and other facilities from the city government.
Mustafa Kamal said that the city government was going to make Karachi the most investment-friendly city of the world and for this purpose work on all the ongoing projects was being carried out round-the-clock. “We will welcome foreign investors and their companies to provide modern facilities to people,” he said.
He directed EDO Revenue to provide complete details about the land at six locations where the Germans wanted to construct shopping malls.
The delegation was informed that the city government could work on long-term partnership for shopping mall project whereby land would remain the property of city government and remaining project details would be the investor's responsibility. He said that the city government would help and cooperate in the provision of utilities and other services.
He asked the delegation to prepare shopping mall feasibility within a week and present it to EDO Revenue.
He suggested that in the proposed shopping malls, prices of consumer goods be kept at a reasonable level so that people of Karachi could be directly benefited.
The nazim informed the delegation that Karachi with a population of 18 million was the sixth largest city in the world. He said that the metropolis contributed 68 per cent revenue to the national exchequer, which was used by the whole of Pakistan.
He said that billions of rupees were being spent on infrastructure development while preparations were in hand for having a Master Plan for Karachi up to 2030.
Mustafa Kamal told the delegation that Pakistani fruits, particularly Sindhi mango, and vegetables were liked in most countries of the world.
Referring to his visit to Malaysian Sunway Water Park and Beach, he said, “We want to have similar recreational points here for public entertainment.” –APP
FLYOVER: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal directed works and services department officials to provide alternate routes before laying of foundation stone of Hasan Square and National Stadium flyovers.
Mustafa Kamal said that the city government decided to start work on two flyovers while respecting the public opinion that the development works, which used to take years to complete, were now taking only months.
He directed the officials concerned to install guide signs of alternate routes at conspicuous points and said that the foundation stone laying ceremony would not take place until alternate routes were provided to people.—APP
