THATTA, Sept 16: Under special directives of the Sindh government, a master plan has been prepared to convert five coastal settlements — Ghorabari, Var, Baghan, Gaarho and Pir Patho — into model towns to provide all civic and other facilities to misery-stricken population of Thatta coastline.

This was stated by Thatta Deputy Commissioner Agha Shah Nawaz Babar while presiding over a high-level meeting of the heads of all departments concerned here at Darbar Hall Makli on Monday.

He claimed that the government was interested in promoting and providing all civic facilities throughout the district.

In this regard, he said, suggestions of experts had been included in the master plan to depict the culture, traditions and customs of these areas. The work would start very soon, he added.

He said that under the master plan, the status of 16 schools of these five settlements would be promoted to high school with new buildings. Rural health centres and basic health units would also be upgraded as central health facilities.

The deputy commissioner said the departments concerned had been ordered to start work for laying water supply schemes and drainage system and constructing metallic roads, footpaths, pavement of streets, lavatories at public places, public parks, model police stations, buildings for the local government departments, women welfare centres, playgrounds, community centres and libraries equipped with the internet. He said the master plan also included construction of boundary walls of graveyards, children vocational centres, drains and provision of solar energy street lights.

He said the officers involved in materialisation of these model towns would be held responsible for maintenance of these schemes for the next five years.

He directed officers of the departments concerned to prepare PC-I of these schemes within a week and submit it in the office of superintendent engineer works and services.

Those attending the meeting included officials of departments of works and services, Hyderabad rural development, Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority, education, revenue, public health, education, drainage, roads, Wapda, highway, buildings, education works and social welfare. Former MPA Humaira Alwani, a coordinator for Thatta district development, said that foreign aid was also expected to complete most of the schemes within six months.