KARACHI, Aug 13: Announ-cing the launch of the “city owners” programme on Wednesday, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal made a impassioned appeal to Karachiites to join the programme as volunteers and devote a couple of hours a week for the city’s development and recreational projects.

He told a press conference at the city government offices in the Civic Centre that the registration for the programme had got under way and any resident of Karachi willing to offer his voluntary service could get himself registered

“The volunteers will be issued city owner cards which will enable them to play their role in protecting the city’s development and recreational projects while working along with the city government in the fields of education, traffic management, calamity & disaster management, etc,” he explained.

Mr Kamal urged people to come forward with the spirit of owning this city. “Everyone is welcomed and will be encouraged to work with the CDGK for at least two hours a week in the fields of their interest,” he said, adding that they could spare a time of their own choice.

Regarding the procedure, he said there was no restriction of age, gender, political affiliation or social status to join in the programme and any willing individual could volunteer simply by filling out the prescribed form. “Professionals, students, teachers, government officials, corporate heads, labourers and even vendors can become city owners,” he said.

The city nazim observed that no city or country could progress without active participation of its people in its development. “Instead of criticising the government, its policies or projects, people should come forward and participate in the city’s development,” he said.

He appealed to Karachiites, including those affiliated to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan People’s Party, Jamaat-i-Islami or any other political or religious party, to respond positively to the initiative.

In reply to a question, Mr Kamal said that the programme had nothing to do with the issue of jurisdiction and, as such, people residing in the limits of cantonment boards and other land-controlling agencies could also seek registration. A registration desk has been set up in the community development department while staff has been made available in the offices of all 18 towns for the purpose.

He hoped that the registration process would complete within 15 days. He said the city government would compile the volunteers’ data and they would be sent their cards by courier.

The city government would maintain a roster to regulate the working of the volunteers who would be deputed in the community services of their preference. The performance report prepared and submitted by the city owners would be evaluated by the city government. At the end of every year, 25 of the volunteers would be given awards.