KARACHI: A day after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s federal government showed its willingness to work with the PPP-led Sindh government for Karachi’s transport and water supply problems, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah held a one-to-one meeting with Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Thursday.

The chief minister gave his consent to “all proposals” and vowed to “complete the job on the part of the provincial authorities on the centre-funded projects” in order to complete the mega schemes without any further delay, officials and sources said.

The improvement in working relations between the political rivals was received by Karachiites as a welcome gesture offered at the beginning of New Year for the city’s development.

Mr Shah called Mr Ismail at Governor House where the two met for almost an hour, the sources said.

Murad pledges to complete his part of the job on Centre-funded projects

Although there was no official word from the two offices about the details of the meeting, the sources privy to the discussions held between the two were sure that it was mainly about Karachi projects that came under a review in the Karachi Transformation Commi­ttee’s meeting held a day earlier.

The meeting of the Karachi Transformation Committee was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and also attended by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi and Sindh Governor Imran Ismail along with members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, key coalition partner of the PTI government at the Centre.

“The CM has agreed to sign a facilitation agreement over the Green Line Bus Rapid Transit with the federal governor on any consensual date so that the project could be completed and its formal launch could be held within the next couple of months,” the sources added.

The Sindh governor, meanwhile, briefed the CM about more projects planned by the federal government for Karachi and next month’s possible visit of the PM to the city.

Federal Minister Ali Zaidi after the Karachi Transformation Committee’s meeting at Governor House the other day showed his willingness to work with the PPP-led provincial government for the sake of Karachi’s transport and water supply challenges.

He expressed the hope that the two sides would soon reach an agreement on the multi-billion-rupee Green Line and K-IV projects for early completion.

About the K-IV project, the sources said, the CM informed the governor about the progress of technical committee, which was set up by the provincial government to re-evaluate the project after the state-owned National Engineering Services Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd company (Nespak) raised objections over its design.

The multi-billion-rupee scheme meant for meeting water needs of Karachiites has remained a distant dream even after more than eight years of its formal launch.

“As we know the K-IV project, there is an objection on its design and on that Nespak has completed its study and submitted the report. Now the Sindh government’s technical committee is reviewing that report. The CM assured the centre of early completion of committee’s task that would hopefully re-launch the key project for growing water supply needs of Karachi,” said the sources.

According to the original plan, the gigantic K-IV is 121 kilometres long, that includes a 94km canal, 18km siphon and 773-meter intake and 81 culverts.

The project envisages an alternative route and corridor to serve Karachi’s water supply needs for the next 50 years, which will reduce the shortage of water in the area and provide 1,200 cusecs or 250mgd to the city.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2020