KARACHI, March 10: The Adviser on Local Government, Waseem Akhtar, has called for provision of all basic amenities of life to the shiftees of the Lyari Expressway (LEW) Project.

He recalled the katchi abadis in which they lived, which neither had roads nor regular water supply and sewerage system. They lacked facilities of health, education, sports, park and nursery, he said.

It is, therefore, imperative that in the rehabilitation sites, the shiftees of LEW should be provided facilities of water, electricity, gas besides education, sports, park and playground so their living conditions could be improved.

He issued the directives during a visit to the third resettlement site of the LEW on Hub River Road adjoining the Naval Colony in Baldia Town. The nazim Baldia Town was also present there.

The adviser had a detailed review of development works implemented at the site and said that shiftees must have basic facilities of life prior to their arrival there.

He also inspected in detail the schools, mosques and parks constructed at the site and emphasised that provision of education to every child was a very important aspect.

Akhtar appreciated the plantation carried out on both sides of the roads and suggested that if the hillocks at the site were made more green, it would make the area more beautiful.

He was appreciative of the drip irrigation system for plants through wind mill and said the same system should also be developed at other sites.

The adviser was also given a through briefing at the site office by Project Director Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, who said about 2,924 plots had been developed at the Baldia site for the LEW shiftees.

He said work on a grid station, primary school, mini civic centre, shopping centre, construction material shops, hawkers bazaar and dispensary had been completed.

He was informed that the Baldia site would have six schools, four mosques, eight parks and playgrounds, 21 plots for public sector offices, two hospitals and dispensaries, a community centre and one hill park.

Akhtar was told that development work was fast in progress at the site. Hillocks were being developed into small parks, which would provide better recreational facilities to residents.

Mr Paracha said a water supply line was being laid at a cost of Rs120 million being jointly borne by SUPARCO and the Lyari Expressway Rehabilitation Project.

This pipeline will also supply water to the employees of SUPARCO and rehabilitated people.

The adviser was informed officials had been deputed in the mini-civic centre, which will have offices of the project and those of electricity, water, gas, zakat, parks and social welfare officials to efficiently facilitate the shiftees. The adviser Local Government later planted a tree at the site.—APP