KARACHI: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Saturday said that foreign investors had shown keen interest to become part of the Karachi Circular Railway project and the government was considering all possible options before picking up the best to complete it in two years.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the restoration and revamping of Mahmoodabad Nullah, he said that the completion of the major drain under the Prime Minister’s Rs1.1 trillion Karachi Transformation Plan was a reflection of the federal government’s commitment for development of the metropolis.

“When the Karachi Transformation Plan was announced in September 2020, we marked three nullahs for restoration to modernise the city’s drainage system and keep it safe from urban flooding during rains,” he said.

“This Mahmoodabad nullah is one of them and the work is also under progress on two others drains — Orangi Nullah and Gujjar Nullah. So Karachiites should know that all the projects under the KTP including freight corridor, water supply through K-IV and KCR would be completed within the stipulated time,” he said.

He said that the port city’s betterment did not fall within the ambit of the federal government, yet Prime Minister Imran Khan gave special attention to Karachi.

Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi was also present.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2021