June 15, 2008	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 10, 1429

KARACHI, June 14: The study on a mega project aimed at making Karachi green will be completed by Aug 31 and the final report will be submitted to the relevant authority in September.

This was stated by officials of the Karachi Mega City Development Project (KMCDP) during a meeting with Naib City Nazim Ms Nasreen Jalil in her office here on Saturday.

The study, titled: “Study on Preparation of Comprehensive Plan on Forestation and Aesthetic Plantation for Karachi”, was started on March 31.

KMCDP coordinator Roshan Ali Sheikh and Dr G.R. Keerio briefed the naib nazim about the project and the study. Deputy project director Ghulam Mohiyyuddin Asim, DO Forests Saeed Pirani, Dr Leekh Raj Keela, Mahboob Ali Bhatti, Mohammad Amin Khaskheli, Misbahuddin Jamili, Arif Bhatti and Sarwat Arif were present at the meeting.

Ms Jalil pointed out that the city government had carried out a record number of development projects in the metropolis and was now set to launch the mega project to beautify the city through tree plantation and forestation. She told the project executives and the officials concerned to ensure maximum possible greenery and tree plantation in residential and other areas, including housing projects.

She said that the City Council would adopt a resolution asking the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) to incorporate the rules and regulations binding owners and occupants of private residential units to ensure greenery and tree plantation inside and outside their houses. In this regard, she stressed that special attention should paid to the areas falling in the suburbs of the city.

Ms Jalil was informed that on 7.28 per cent of the city’s territory, measuring around 3,600 square kilometres, had greenery. It was mentioned that the city’s urban area was spread over an area of 1,300 square kilometres while the agricultural lands within the city’s limits measured around 2,300 square kilometres.

She was informed that a plan was being chalked out under the project to explore water sources for the purpose of forestation. Besides, matters pertaining to the identification of lands and spots along Super Highway, National Highway, RCD Highway, river banks and other areas were being looked into.

The meeting was told that forestation would also be initiated in the areas falling in the city’s suburbs at a small level. The project executives stated that tree plantation would be carried out along the city’s 50-kilometre-long coastal belt.—PPI