KARACHI: City Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Saturday said that the provincial government was trying to bring a parallel and balanced local government system in Karachi.

Speaking at a press conference at Burnes Garden, he said that restoration of town system was also under consideration. “A committee is working to rectify these issues,” he said.

The administrator said that the provincial government was ready to hold local government elections in February and March.

He said that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) started development works in Karachi at a cost of Rs1.1 billion and many parks and city locations were being renovated.

The administrator said doors of this Burnes Garden were closed, but now it had been opened to the public after renovation.

Says restoration of town system also under consideration

After that the renovation of Frere Hall with the help of US consul general, now this Burnes Garden is being renovated, he added.

There were thousands of tonnes of debris and garbage in Burnes Garden which has been removed, he added.

He said that Aziz Bhatti Park would also be renovated.

Rs1.5bn for roads, streetlights “Roads and streetlights in the city will be improved at a cost of Rs1.5bn in the same financial year,” he added.

Metropolitan commissioner Syed Afzal Zaidi, director general of parks Junaidullah Khan and others were present.

He said 240 new buses for Karachi and 10 new buses for Larkana would reach Karachi between January 31 and February 7.

He said that the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board would take over the garbage collection and cleaning work in district Korangi this month and in district Central from next month.

“All major arteries will be beautified to improve the environment of Karachi,” he said.

A tender has been issued for construction of a road from Machli Chowk to Kanupp at a cost of Rs800m along the beach. A tender has also been issued for the repairing of streetlights on Mai Kolachi Road with Rs200m, he said.

“Work is under way to repair the fish aquarium and fix the expansion joints of Karachi bridges and restore Sir Aga Khan Park,” he added.

He said that a technical study would be completed for the renovation of the supermarket located in district Central.

Four roads, Shahra-i-Shershah, Shahra-i-Noor Jahan, Rashid Minhas Road to Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases and the road in front of Jinnah Hospital are being reconstructed, he added.

“The former mayor never tried to get input and kept blaming others to hide his incompetence. The people will see further improvement in Karachi in the days to come,” he said.

Governor assured of cooperation

Administrator Wahab, who is also the chief minister’s law adviser and spokesperson for the Sindh government, added that the governor of Sindh had assured full support for allowing passage of heavy traffic through Lyari Expressway as the matter fell under the jurisdiction of National Highway and discussions were under way with them.

He said that Yellow Line bus rapid transit system project was being constructed at a cost of Rs30bn.

“Rs16bn is being spent to supply water from Dhabeji to Karachi. Additional buses are being procured at a cost of Rs8.5bn,” he added.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2021