KARACHI: The federal government is in the process of conceiving mega development projects for major Sindh cities including Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, and some other districts with a view to bring the province at par with other ‘developed’ parts of the country.

This emerged during a meeting of the Karachi Transformation Committee (KTC) and the Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SIDCL) at the Governor House on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail. Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly Firdous Shamim Naqvi, adviser to governor Ali Junejo and board member of the SIDCL Adnan Asdar also attended the meeting, said a statement issued after the meeting.

“The federal government is attaching top priority for development of the province with a view to bring it at par with other developed parts of the country,” the statement quoted the Sindh governor as saying. “Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to develop the economic hub of Pakistan so as to ensure accelerated progress and prosperity of the country. The development projects being conceived for Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and other districts of the province would bring a positive change in the lifestyle of the common people as they would get all amenities of life at their doorstep.” He said the federal government would provide every possible help and assistance to Sindh.

While appreciating the signing of a facilitation agreement by the Sindh government, the statement said that the governor expressed the hope that it would accelerate the process of purchase of buses for the Green Line project.

‘Imran Khan wants to develop Karachi to ensure accelerated progress and prosperity of the country’

The Green Line would ensure state-of-the-art travelling facilities for Karachiites, which is their due right, he said.

The governor was briefed on the Green Line project, purchase of fire tenders for the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and various projects of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

“The purchase of fire tenders for the KMC is expected by December this year,” said the statement. “With the availability of most modern fire tenders, the damage caused by various fire incidents could be averted. The governor also asked the SIDCL to expedite various projects under its domain so as to facilitate the masses at the earliest.”

Meanwhile, a separate statement said that the Sindh governor on directives of the prime minister handed over four trucks of rations for the people of Lyari to the elected representatives of the area — MNA Abdul Shakoor Shad and MPA Ramzan Ghanchi — to ensure distribution of the same to deserving persons as soon as possible.

“A considerable majority of Lyari residents are daily wagers and the PM is fully aware of their plight and hardship due to the coronavirus and lockdown,” the statement quoted the governor as saying. “We are trying to reach as much people as possible to ease their difficulties. The inclusion of the Tiger Force in the process would help the federal government to a great extent. The federal government is eager to serve the masses without any political interest. It is a difficult period for everyone and the government can only succeed with the help and cooperation of the masses.”

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2020