KARACHI, April 4: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has emphasised the need for privatizing the Fitness Certificate Centre to improve the transport system in Karachi and introduce a quality transport service. Such an action has become inevitable so that the private sector can improve the fitness of vehicles with the use of modern technology.

A summary in this regard has been sent to the chief minister and a decision thereon is expected soon.

He stated this while addressing officials of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee during a visit to its offices at the Governor’s House.

He said it was a matter of concern and regret that the vehicles, which were banned for plying in rural areas of Pakistan, get fitness certificates in Karachi. It was for this reason, he added, that our transport, which was devoid of facilities, was becoming a source of inconvenience to commuters.

Kamal said an Australian company had submitted its study two weeks back with regard to 8,000 CNG buses for Karachi, and hopefully the first instalment will be received in June this year while 8,000 such buses will be on the city’s roads during the next four years.

On the occasion, he agreed to the revival of zonal scrutiny committees. Every committee will comprise the zonal CPLC chief, TPO, a representative of the Pakistan Rangers, town nazim and the PDSP.

It was also decided in the meeting that the CPLC will shortly construct 200 public toilets in Hawkesbay area where people face problems due to lack of such facility.

As regards the establishment of a consumer’s protection council, the nazim said the city government was giving serious consideration to the issue. He said a summary had been sent in this regard as well, seeking strict laws against adulterators.

He said a law was in the making for giving six-month imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 against adulteration and over-charging. It will be enforced soon.

The nazim appreciated the performance of the CPLC and its efforts for providing facilities to citizens and called for its close liaison with the city government.

He pointed out that in order to facilitate people, the desired results can be achieved with the coordination of the private sector.

The world over, he said, the community was being associated with the government and we too had to introduce a system at the town-level whereby community representatives were included in service-providing organisations and the budget allocated for their respective areas was spent with their consultation.

The CPLC Chief, Sharfuddin Memon, and Deputy Chief Ahmed Chenoy gave briefing to the nazim on the working and performance of the CPLC.

—APP