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KARACHI, May 24: Acting City Nazim Nasreen Jalil referring to different cantonments, the Karachi Port Trust, and Pakistan Railways observed that a number of local governments were functioning simultaneously in the city with each having its own laws and by-laws.
Chairing a meeting at her office on Wednesday, she stressed that amendments in laws were needed to do away with the emerging confusion due to implementation of different laws on the same matter in different areas of the city.
She cited the example of billboards removal and said that problems were being faced, as in many of the incidents the land, where billboards were erected, was owned by some other organisation.
Nasreen Jalil underlined the need for immediate enforcement of uniform laws along with devolution of departments which were to be merged into the city government so that laws were implemented in their true spirit and people could be provided with better facilities.
She called for formulation of uniform by-laws and said that the by-laws which had been prepared or already enforced in other provinces should be obtained for their implementation in Karachi after carrying out necessary amendments. She said that while framing the rules under District Supporting Programme, the proposals of monitoring committees and union councils should also be obtained for consultation purposes.
She said that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal had issued directive for preparation of by-law and in this respect a committee had been formed to review preparation of by-laws.
Maintaining that Karachi contributes 64 per cent of national revenue, she said that if funds were spent with the same proportion on development, this would result in generating more revenue, thus benefiting not only the people of this city but the entire country.
Acting Nazim said that the city council had the power to approve Master Plan. But, problems could be faced in its implementation since no procedure had been devised.
She observed that all these matters should be considered while preparing the laws for which help should also be sought from assembly members.
Sindh Advocate General Qazi Khalid assured the acting nazim of his full cooperation in the framing of by-laws and sought city government’s priorities in this regard for consideration.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Senior Presiding Officer Masood Mahmood, EDO (Master Plan) Iftekhar Ahmed Qaimkhani, EDO (Revenue) Saleh Farooqi, EDO (Law) Manzoor Ahmed, EDO (IT) Dr A.D. Sajanani, DO (Coordination) Mukarram Sultan Bukhari and others.
FRENCH DELEGATION: A visiting delegation of French journalists called on Acting City Nazim Nasreen Jalil at her office here on Wednesday and exchanged views on matters of mutual interests.
They were accompanied by French Consul-General at Karachi Pierre Seillan and Islamabad-based Naval Attache Fredric Balaresque.
On the occasion, Nasreen Jalil informed the visitors that the city government was striving to make Karachi an international mega city of the future and some 129 projects were under implementation with the cooperation of federal government. She expressed hope that these projects would be completed in the next one-and-half years resulting in the upgradation of old infrastructure lying in a bad shape for years.
Nasreen Jalil pointed out that city government priorities included education, health, transport, water and sewerage. She explained that the city government was working under comprehensive planning to enhance the living standard of people, solve the basic problems, promote moderate thinking and bring all the sectors in harmony with modern day needs.
She said that with the efforts of present city government, environment conducive for local and foreign investors had been developed in Karachi and most international organisations were showing interest for investment.—APP
