November 07, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 8, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 6: Top management of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has asked the staff concerned to appear before the police officials probing the theft of 22 components of the Rs320 million fountain.

Earlier, the police investigators had issued notices to the port authorities asking them to get their statements recorded when the KPT was found uncooperative and distancing itself from the process.

“The staff responsible has been asked to appear before the police investigators,” said a KPT statement issued on Wednesday, adding that an internal inquiry had been completed.

It said a few appliances, including tools, had been stolen from the main pump house, resulting in suspension of the fountain’s operations.

The KPT has already awarded the contract for the repair of the crippled fountain to some foreign companies, which were engaged to fix the 500-foot-high Water Jet Fountain at Oyster Rock. Officials said the rectification of the defect was being done by M/s Hydro Diesel Company of Holland and M/s MTU of Germany, and efforts were being made to make the fountain operational as soon as possible.