KARACHI, June 28: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, said the city government is honestly fulfilling its pledge of rendering services to the citizens without discrimination. “We have worked even in areas, which do not come within the city government’s jurisdiction, because these areas are inhabited by Karachiites as well and we are fully aware of their problems,” he said, while speaking as the chief guest of a foundation stone laying ceremony of a water supply project at Gulshan-i-Jamal on the Rashid Minhas Road.

He hoped the lingering water shortage in Gulshan-i-Jamal would soon be overcome after the project was completed in three to six months at a cost of Rs42.74 million under the Tameer-i-Karachi Programme.

Under the project, a three km 24-inch diameter line and a four km 12-inch diameter line would be laid from the NIPA Pumping Station to the Gulshan-i-Jamal pumping station.

The project would not only supply water to the residents of Gulshan-i-Jamal but would also benefit residents of the adjoining areas including those of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar and the Askari Housing Society on the Rashid Minhas Road.

He said the problem of water shortage in the metropolis was complicated from day one and it was getting more complicated with its increasing population.

Mr Niamat said, “In my very first meeting with President Pervez Musharraf after assuming charge of the city nazim, I apprised him of the water and sewerage problems of the city, which were in very bad conditions in those days, as all lines were leaking and 35 per cent of water was being wasted. These problems were overcome by us.”

He observed that during the last 57 years, no efforts had been made to resolve the water shortage problem in the city, and it was the present city government that had taken initiatives to resolve the problem.

He added that it had been decided for the first time in the city’s history to set up two desalination plants, which would supply 50 mgs water to the city. Besides, agreements would be made with two foreign companies to supply extra 150 mgd water.

He said not a single rupee would be spent by the city government for setting up these desalination plants, as the concerned would bear all expenses.

In addition, he said, another mega project, the K-III, was in its final stages. About 10 mgd water would be supplied through the project to the city, subsequently resolving the city’s water shortage problem to a great extent, he maintained.

Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town Nazim Abdul Wahab said the city government was not responsible to carry out works in cantt areas, the nazim had approved the project under the dedicated feeling of service to citizens. — PPI