KARACHI, Dec 3: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has directed concerned authorities to conduct physical survey of Scheme-41, Surjani Town, launched by the now defunct Karachi Development Authority.

He also issued directives for chalking out an effective strategy to ensure an improvement in the living conditions there keeping in view the requirement of basic facilities.

Dr Ibad was presiding over a high-level meeting at the Governor House here on Wednesday.

He expressed his resentment over the lack of basic amenities in the scheme in spite of the fact that it was notified 20 years back. He noted that living conditions in the area were not satisfactory at all.

The governor stressed on immediate steps, including proper planning and development, so that the area could be made livable. He ordered that arrangements be made for installation of lights on roads.

Discussing conditions in Lines Area, Dr Ibad asked the officials to submit a report on the ongoing development schemes besides suggestions aimed at improving basic facilities in the locality.

Governor directed the officials to make immediate arrangements for setting up a police station for the Karachi Building Control Authority.

Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Syed Shoaib Ahmed Bukhari briefed the governor on the subject.

Adviser to the CM on Local Government Waseem Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary Saleem Khan, Naib City Nazim Tariq Hasan, DCO Mir Hussain Ali, and officials of the Karachi Water and Sanitation Department and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation attended the meeting.

Talking to a 35-member delegation of the NIPA Study Group which called on him at the Governor House on Wednesday, the governor said that the provincial government was protecting Sindh’s interests and keenly working with all its capabilities in this regard.

He made it clear that the federal government, in no way, was depriving the province of its due rights. On the contrary, he added, the Centre had helped Sindh in various fields and in the launching of a number of mega project in Karachi as well as other parts of the province.

Dr Ibad pointed out that a significant headway was achieved in respect of inter-provincial harmony and creation of an atmosphere of trust and cooperation between the Centre and provinces during the period of President Musharraf.

In the interior of Sindh, he told the delegation, work was started on various projects to streamline irrigation and agriculture on modern lines. Besides, schemes like revival of the age-old irrigation system and the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) were under way. In Karachi also, work on mega projects like K-3 water supply, flyovers, Northern By-pass, Lyari Expressway etc., is in full swing.

The governor said the provincial coalition was a reflection of urban-rural representation and efforts were being made to address the problems facing all citizens and areas without any discrimination.—PPI/APP