KARACHI: CM concerned over lack of drainage infrastructure
KARACHI, Aug 18: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has expressed concern over lack of storm-water drainage infrastructure in Karachi, and regretted that the previous governments did not pay attention to this which resulted in difficulties to citizens during rains.
Stressing the need for extensive future planning to improve rainwater drainage system in Karachi, he asked the concerned authorities to take measures and utilize all available resources to control the situation arising out of rains.
He expressed grief over loss of lives and properties in different incidents due to torrential rains in Karachi, Hyderabad and other districts of the province and offered condolence to families of the victims.
He directed the district administrations to take immediate steps to overcome devastation caused by recent rains in the province and devise a foolproof and long-term strategy to cope with such situations in future.
On Friday, Dr Arbab Rahim contacted all the DCOs over telephone and got reports on rain and floods in their districts. He directed the DCOs to monitor relief activities in their districts.
He claimed that upper Sindh remained unaffected by monsoon downpours and said no report had, so far, been received about the magnitude of damage by rains in the lower Sindh.
He, however, said the government would consider declaring affected areas calamity-hit as soon as report and statistics from the relief commissioner were received.
The chief minister issued directives to the provincial relief commissioner to submit him a detailed report after assessing and surveying rain damages in the entire province.
He said he would soon pay a visit to various districts of the province to review rain devastation and relief activities.
Dr Rahim also sought information about flood in River Indus from provincial irrigation secretary and directed him to keep a strict vigil on the river's embankments.
Meanwhile, the chief minister has approved different uplift schemes worth Rs13.833 million for Tharparkar.
The schemes include construction of road in Haji Allah Dino Bujer Paro in Mithi town, digging in Mithi's Siran Tarajin area, provision of standby generator and rural water supply scheme in Siarsukhi area of taluka Chacharo.
The chief minister had approved these projects under special funds reserved for emergency works for fiscal 2005-06 and had directed the Tharparkar district government to submit these schemes to the PDWP via DDWP for a review. But the district government sent it to the PDWP in the second week of June for a review.
Due to late receipt of funds, these schemes could not be released.
The chief minister called for immediate release of Rs13.833 million for the above schemes from special funds of Rs500 million reserved for emergency works for fiscal 2006-07 so that these could be completed in the stipulated time and provide relief to people.
Media City: Giving an approval to allotment of 200 acres for Internet Media City in Karachi, the Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Friday directed the finance department to release Rs200 million as set by District Price Fixation Committee.
He said that the establishment of Internet Media City in Education City, Karachi near Dhabeji Link Road would give a boost to IT sector.
The chief minister said that besides other facilities, software houses, call centres, hardware manufacturing and assembling plants, training centres, hotels, health clubs, residential area and other civic amenities would also be provided in the media city.
He hoped that the setting up of the media city would attract more foreign investment and create job opportunities to people, saying with the development of IT, a new era of progress and prosperity would usher in.—PPI
