0
KARACHI, Dec 7: A new master plan prepared by the Karachi city district government was presented for debate by the treasury benches in the City Council’s meeting on Friday, though the opposition benches urged a postponement of the discussion in the light of the upcoming elections.
It was the sixth development plan being submitted for the uplift of the mega city. Since 1923, five master plans have been formulated, but none of them have been implemented because of the lack of a legal cover.
Considering the development needs of the growing population and deficiencies of the present system, the CDGK has formulated the Karachi Strategic Development Plan (KSDP-2020) under the Tameer-i-Karachi Programme to set up a strategic framework and overall development direction for the future.
The council session was presided over by Naib Nazim and Convener Ms Nasreen Jalil while the EDO of the Master Plan Department Iftikhar Ali Kaimkhani was specially summoned to brief the house on the salient features of the new plan.
However, when the house opened its session, opposition leaders Saeed Ghani, Rafiq Ahmad and Shaikh Mehbubur Rehman on points of order urged the chair to extend the debate on this important document to an appropriate time because at present, other, more pressing public issues needed to be discussed because of the forthcoming elections.
They also called for sufficient time for members to study the details of the new plan as many of them could not get the copy of it. But treasury leaders Asif Siddiqui and Masood Mehmood did not agree with the contention of the opposition leaders, saying that the house should be allowed to debate the plan, which is very important and pertains to the overall development of the city.
Thereafter, the convener ruled out the reservations of the opposition leaders and directed Mr Kaimkhani to brief the house on the KSDP-2020.
In his brief presentation, Mr Kaimkhani said that the spatial coverage of the KSDP-2020 extended over the whole city district of Karachi, consisting of 18 administrative towns, six cantonments and the federal and provincial governments’ land-holding agencies, while the towns are territorially further subdivided into 178 union councils.
The master plan shows that the total area of the Karachi district is approximately 3,600sq km, of which about 1,300sq km are occupied by built-up area (within 15 internal towns), while land planning and control is fragmented into 20 federal, provincial and local agencies.
The EDO said that the multiplicity of ownership, overlapping functions and lack of coordination had hampered the formulation and implementation of development plans.
Keeping in view all these hindrances and obstacles, he said the CDGK has a vision of making Karachi a world class city and an attractive economic centre.
According to him, presentations of the plan were made to the president, the former prime minister, the provincial governor, the corps commander, the chief secretary, the city nazim, town nazims and other government agencies and international development partners.
He said the KSDP-2020 would have legal status under Section 40 of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001, adding that it would be mandatory for all the agencies and stakeholders (federal, provincial and local governments) in Karachi to follow the plan.
The salient features of the plan include a programme for local area regeneration to be undertaken area-by-area wherein local transport and infrastructure would be improved while efficient land use would be encouraged, including expansion through consolidation.
Under the plan additional urban centres will be promoted in existing built-up areas to help decentralize the existing economic activity and public services concentrated in the city centre. A new high-density trade and warehousing centre at the interchanges of the RCD Highway and the Northern Bypass and a new ICT centre in Bin Qasim in close proximity to the proposed Education City is also included in the plan. The plan consists of establishing a new government centre at the intersection of the Northern Bypass and the Super Highway.
It also proposes the development of the city’s entry points. For this purpose urban designs will be undertaken to develop the city’s three entry-exit points located at the Super Highway, National Highway and RCD Highway. This would include the development of transport, infrastructure, the removal of encroachments, construction, building machinery yards in the area, beautification and landscaping.
The plan also shows full utilization of developed industrial areas in the Bin Qasim industrial zone, Export Processing Zone, Surjani Town, Site, Textile City and the Korangi Industrial Area. Three more locations proposed in addition to the existing industrial areas would be developed when needed. Besides, cottage industries announced in the 1990s in Landhi, Baldia and Orangi will be developed and handed to the allottees and encroachments on these schemes will be removed immediately.
To effect the decentralization of Karachi’s financial district, which continues to grow, a number of sub-centres will be developed at new locations where the infrastructure and needed amenities would be adequately provided.
A proposal was made to establish a diplomatic enclave at an appropriate location such as the Old Race Course Ground. The concept, feasibility and possible sites shall be explored and identified in consultation with the relevant agencies.
The master plan also envisages the development of an Education City by bringing together institutions in education and health sectors on the site notified at Deh Chohar.
Other proposals are an additional site for the Karachi International Airport, allocation of space for graveyards, construction of new landfill sites, housing facilities, segregated mass transit system, park and ride facility, transit terminals and improving traffic management, roads and highways.
The plan also touches on the water supply and sewerage system, garbage transfer facilities besides the health sector by upgrading health facilities.
When the EDO wound up his briefing, Nazim UC-2 of Gadap Town Mujahid Jokio stood up and complained that the residents of Deh Chohar had not been taken into confidence while preparing the master plan, saying that “People are being uprooted from their land in the name of development”.
Mr Jokio questioned what kind of development this was when the houses of the poor were being demolished while they were being deprived of jobs. He complained that local people were not even being considered for petty jobs such as that of a peon.
In reply to Mr Jokio and others, the EDO said the members could give any positive suggestions which could be accommodated.
Later, the convener adjourned the session till Saturday.
