KARACHI, Jan 20: The federal government has assured City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal of all possible assistance in the construction of Corridor-2 of the Karachi Mass Transit Project.

The assurance was given by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Mr Salman Shah at their meeting in Islamabad on Friday, says a CDGK press release.

Mr Kamal also met Akram Sheikh, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Mr Daniyal Aziz, Chairman of the National Reconstruction Bureau.

EDO Finance Roshan Ali Sheikh, EDO Transport Mohammed Ather and Director-General of the KMTP Malik Zaheerul Islam were also present on the occasion.

The city nazim briefed Mr Salman Shah about the utility and significance of the KMTP. He said that it had been decided that the Corridor-2 of the project would be initiated with the help of federal government.

He pointed out that Karachi was facing a number of transport problems, and it was imperative to address them as early as possible.

He said that acceleration of the development activities in Karachi would benefit the country as a whole.

Mr Shah acceded to Mr Kamal’s point of view and assured him that the federal ministry of finance would provide funds for such a gigantic project.

It may be noted that the Corridor-2 starts from Orangi Town and ends at the Cantonment Station. The project envisages 14 stations.

A study conducted by World Bank in 1992 had suggested that there was a dire need of an 87-km mass transit network to resolve the city’s transport problem. They study had proposed six corridors.

In his meeting with Mr Akram Sheikh, the city nazim pin-pointed the problems and difficulties faced during the initiation of development work on the Corridor-1, and said that these problems could be resolved only with the support of the federal government.

Mr Sheikh assured him of the government’s help in finding a solution to these problems so that the project could be implemented as early as possible.

The Corridor-1 is to be built between Tower and Sohrab Goth.

According to a survey conducted recently, several million people use various transport means every day in Karachi and keeping this in view, the significance and utility of mega project like mass transit has become more important.

During his meeting with the NRB Chairman, Mr Daniyal Aziz, the city nazim discussed the Local Government system, as well as the issues and problems relating to the city district Karachi.

He also apprised Mr Aziz of the matters concerning the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO). They exchanged views on various aspects of the issues.

Mr Aziz assured Mr Kamal the problems being faced by Karachi would be considered sympathetically and addressed keeping in view the importance and significant position the city held.—APP