KARACHI, Dec 15: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has said that the city government would complete patchwork/repairing of all battered roads in the metropolis ahead of the deadline set by President Musharraf for the purpose.

The president, at a high-level meeting at Governor House on Saturday, had given 15 days to the city government to complete the work. The meeting was held after President Musharraf, along with Governor Ishratul Ibad and the acting City Nazim Tariq Hassan Khan visited different areas of the city.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the City Nazim said that although he could not attend to Saturday’s meeting owing to his delayed arrival in the city from abroad, the acting Nazim and DCO briefed the president appropriately about development projects. “Had I been there, I would have made even better presentation because I am well conversant with the ongoing development activities,” he said.

He pointed out that five contractors who had been awarded road repair and patchwork contracts at an estimated cost of Rs100 million, had already completed 4.6 million square feet carpeting work out of the 6.6 million feet. The remaining work, he added, would be completed within the next 10 days.

Dispelling the impression that president had expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of CDGK, he said: “Rather, the president has appreciated the performance.”

Asked whether the Sindh government had the authority to issue executive orders with regard to the CDGK’s development schemes, the Nazim replied in the affirmative, saying that the provincial government had every right to know about the development schemes being undertaken by the CDGK.

Mentioning about the Rs29 billion Karachi package, he made it clear that the present leadership of the city government would not allow anyone to sacrifice the package at altar of politics. He firmly declared that the trust reposed by the president in him and his team by approving the package will not be allowed to be shaken.

“All the major components of the Karachi Package will either be completed or initiated by the year 2005,” he said, adding that President Musharraf had already directed different stakeholders of the city to launch their assigned projects either within the next two months or by March 31, 2004.

The Nazim informed newsmen that the Export Promotion Bureau had made a commitment to finance the road projects and water supply/sewerage schemes of the city’s industrial areas through its Export Development Funds.

The Export Processing Zone would complete the Mehran Highway’s remaining four-five kilometre portion (Landhi to EPZ) and construct a road linking the National Highway with the Super Highway, besides undertaking some work relating to solid waste management scheme.

Similarly, he added, the Steel Mills would be financing a flyover at Quaidabad, a bridge between Faisal Colony and Korangi, and multipurpose car parking facilities either along the Railways’ land on I. I. Chundrigar Road or at Jehangir Park.

NORTHERN BYPASS: The Nazim revealed that the meeting held with the President on Saturday had decided that no amendment to the designs of the Northern Bypass and Lyari Expressway would be effected so that early completion of these mega projects be ensured.