KARACHI, July 22: Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser for Local Government Waseem Akhtar on Friday directed the officials concerned that a committee comprising senior officers should be formed within two days to consider the applications of all people affected by the Lyari Expressway project. He issued the directive while chairing a meeting at his office here on Friday. Among others, Lyari Expressway Project Director Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, EDO Revenue Hashim Zaidi and other revenue officials attended the meeting.

The adviser pointed out that the committee would consider the applications individually so that justice could be provided to genuine people affected by the project. He said that those affected by the construction of expressway belonged to middle and low income groups, therefore, the task must be performed keeping the norms of justice in view so that nobody was deprived of his right.

Maintaining that the expressway is a national project and should not be given a political colour, the adviser asked the officials not to carry out survey with political leaders or workers, but dispense administrative justice and give the true impression that they are bound to serve the cause of people.

Waseem Akhtar said that some complaints were received which suggested that certain officials, through illegal means, got the names of non-residents of the area being affected by the project included in the lists of beneficiaries. He said such officials should mend their attitude to make people confident that everything was being done on merit and as per norms of justice. He warned that the officials found involved in illegal practice would be transferred to other departments.

On the occasion, the adviser was informed that 73 per cent work on Lyari Expressway had been completed and it would be 100 per cent by Aug 15 in South area where some 3,500 families would be handed over cheques.

The meeting was informed that a three-member committee had been formed in order to expedite the pace of work. The committee would carry out authentication work and the house in the alignment of the expressway would be demolished. This would help gear up the pace of work and remaining 25 per cent was expected to be completed ahead of schedule. —APP