KARACHI, Aug 7: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the city government is taking steps to strengthen town administrations and union councils by equipping them with machinery and assisting in undertaking development schemes.

All the towns and union councils would be provided machinery without any discrimination, however, in phases, and this process had been started from Liaquatabad, he said on Sunday night during his visit to different parts of Karachi.

The nazim had handed over six tractor, trolleys and two tractor loaders to the Liaquatabad Town last week. These machines were bought at a cost of Rs.6.8 million. He inspected the work being done by these machines.

Mustafa Kamal said that the city government had allocated Rs9.6 million for each union council to carry out development work.

He claimed that overall situation in the city remained under control.

“Draining out rainwater on emergency basis continued round-the-clock and the rainwater accumulated only at a few roads of the city for which all the necessary measures had been taken,” he said.

He went on to say that the development projects like underpasses at Liaquatabad, Gharibabad, Nazimabad and flyovers at Hasan Square, National Stadium, Karsaz and PAF would change the fate of Karachi as they would help ensure smooth traffic flow. He claimed that the ongoing work at these projects did not cause any hardship to the citizens during the rains.

The nazim said it was unfortunate that I.I.Chundrigar Road, one of the most important road having head offices of banks, multinational companies and media had no proper sewerage system.

“We have completed the Abul Hasan Ispahani Road that could be presented as a model road where no rainwater accumulated at any of its part,” he said.

He said that a master plan was under preparation to develop the sewerage system of the city on modern lines.

Mustafa Kamal further said that 90 per cent work of Liaquatabad underpass had been completed.

The work was delayed due to rains however the rainwater was pumped out in five days. The 42-inch-dia sewerage line, which was damaged due to landslide, had also been repaired, he added saying after the completion of underpass, steps would be taken for shifting of this line on permanent basis.—PPI