KARACHI, May 20: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman has directed the provincial health secretary to ensure the provision of all medical facilities in the government dispensaries established in the resettlement sites for those affected by the Lyari Expressway Project.

He was addressing the officials following a briefing on the Lyari Expressway Resettlement Project at his office here on Friday.

Project Director Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, NHA Project Director Mohammed Yusuf Barakzai, Revenue EDO Mohammed Waseem and other officials were also present on the occasion.

During the briefing, the chief secretary was informed that under the resettlement project a total of 18,284 plots of 90 sq-yards had been provided on 782 acres of land.

Of them, 5,434 plots had been provided on 218 acres land in the Hawksbay Scheme-42, 9,926 plots on 420 acres of land in Taisar Town Scheme-45 and 2,924 plots on 124 acres of land in Baldia Township Scheme-29.

In these three resettlement sites a total of 34 schools, 28 mosques, 4 churches and temples, two colleges, 54 parks and playgrounds, 14 hospitals/dispensaries, 15 community centres had been provided besides provision of water, electricity, transport and other basic amenities.

It was informed that out of total 18,284 plots, allotments issued in respect of 12,964 plots and handed over physical possession of 11,268 plots. So far 9,060 families had been shifted to their new abodes.

The meeting was told that 75 per cent of right of way for construction of the Lyari Expressway had been given to the National Highway Authority.

It was stated that surface dressing and carpeting of roads had been completed in the three resettlement sites while construction of more roads was going on smoothly.

The meeting was informed that water supply including tanker supply was being made in the Hawksbay and Taisar towns while work on water pipeline in Baldia Town had been completed.

These towns had been provided facility of 8 shopping centres while classes were being carried out in 13 schools.

In the meeting details were also provided about vocational training centre set up in collaboration with the LERP and the Pakistan Baitul Maal.

The chief secretary was informed that transport facility too had been ensured from the city to these three resettlement sites and a bus was easily available after every 5 minutes.

It was stated that as per PC-1, the estimated cost of the project was Rs2871.652 million and work thereon was started on Jan 21, 2002.

So far Rs2178.750 million had been released and out of them Rs2131.033 million spent.

Addressing the officials the chief secretary convened a meeting to discuss issues and problems related to water, mosques, health and education and other matters.

Besides, the secretaries of auqaf, health and education, officials of the KWSB had also been invited to the meeting to be held next week, prior to which the chief secretary would pay a visit to the Lyari Expressway in two phases, the first being on May 23.

Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman expressing satisfaction over the transfer of the affected families in Taesar Town and Hawksbay directed the concerned officials to expedite measures for transferring of such families in Baldia Town, too. He also stressed early completion of the project.—APP/PPI