Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the pace of development work initiated under the Rs10billion Karachi Package needs to speed up, because in the next fiscal year he will give another development package for the metropolis worth Rs10 billion.

This he said while presiding over a meeting at the CM House to review the undergoing development work in Karachi, said a statement issued on Monday.

The meeting was attended by Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Sindh Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon, Additional Chief Secretary Mohammad Waseem, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Local Government Ramzan Awan, Commissioner Karachi Aijaz Khan, PD Karachi Package Niaz Soomro and other concerned officers.

The chief minister was informed that the work on Rs884.23million worth University Road project from Hassan Square to NIPA is 10 per cent completed while work on the other portion from NED to Safora Chowrangi — being developed at an estimated cost of Rs832 million — has been 12 per cent completed.

On this the chief minister expressed his displeasure and said that portion from NED to Safoora was in bad condition.

“I want you to increase the work force and do the work at your maximum capacity,” he said, adding that he would personally visit the work site any time.

When the chief minister was told that the progress of construction of Tariq Road, from Shaheed-e-Millat Road to Shahrah-e-Quaideen — built at a cost of Rs569.819 million — stood at 15 per cent, he urged the project director to start work on both sides of the road.

“When you have given Khalid Bin Waleed Road as an alternate route why work on one side has been taken up,” the CM asked and directed the Commissioner Karachi and DIG Traffic to remove cars parked on the footpath along the roads, including Khalid Bin Waleed Road within two weeks.

PD Niaz Soomro said that the construction of Hub River Road (balance portion) launched for Rs658.295 million has 16 per cent progress. The chief minister asked him why the work was not being carried out at night.

The meeting was informed that the survey of widening of Shahrah-e-Faisal from Metropole to Star gate of Rs933.381m, survey of construction of storm water drain from Jinnah Terminal to Chakora Nala to Natha Khan Bridge of Rs149.988m and survey of U-turn at Natha Khan Bridge for Rs94.76m, survey for construction of road from Khairpur Town to Link Road national Highway, including the portion connecting to Super Highway were in progress.

The reconstruction of Mosamyat Road of Rs109.331 million has four per cent progress. Remodelling of Baloch Colony Flyover and construction of road launched for Rs63.935 million has 20 per cent progress.

The PD said that construction of Pipri Filter Plant/Pumping Station Stage-I of Rs666.99 million is in progress.

The schemes for which the bids have been opened include reconstruction of Drigh Road Flyover, construction of Drigh Road Underpass along Shahrah-e-Faisal, including reconstruction of existing right turn bridge of Rs662.599 million. Construction of Manzil Pump Flyover at N-5 Karachi for Rs662.599 million, construction of underpass at Submarine Chowarngi towards Sunset Boulevard and rehabilitation of Karachi Zoo. The works would be awarded to well-reputed firms.

The chief minister was also informed that construction of Pipri filter plant/pumping station launched for Rs666.99 million was in progress.