KARACHI, April 8: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has accorded approval of loan amounting to Rs24 billion, besides providing Rs790 million for technical assistance for various mega projects in Karachi. The Acting City Nazim, Nasreen Jalil, met a delegation of the ADB comprising Asad Aleem, Anjum, Ibrahim and others in this regard. The EDO Finance, Roshan Sheikh, was also present, said a statement issued on Saturday.

The delegation, while giving details, said the city government would spend Rs24 billion on various development projects in the city, while the Rs790 million assistance will be used for carrying out studies on various projects including supply of water and sewerage, transport, solid waste management and other facilities so that various schemes could be prepared and implemented in the light of the study.

The acting city nazim called for encouraging local consultants for development projects, saying that unnecessary participation of foreign consultants should be avoided.

She said the appointment of international consultants was a burden on the expenditure of development projects, adding that there was rather a need to reduce these expenditures so that the money saved in this account could be spent on other development schemes.

Jalil also said that it should be ensured that the obstacles pointed out by the ADB did not recur while carrying out development projects.—APP