KARACHI, Oct 9: The volume of Taameer-i-Karachi programme has been raised from the existing Rs29 billion to Rs50 billion, and for the first time in national history the federal government organizations are contributing towards city’s development.

The progress in respect of various projects under Taameer-i-Karachi was reviewed at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Governor Dr Ishratul Iad Khan at Governor’s House here on Monday.

Taking notice of slow pace on the part of some of the organizations, the governor pointed out that all these projects are of great significance and of immediate importance for the development of the city to equip it with modern facilities.

He made it clear that these projects are to be completed as per specified time schedule and cannot be cut down.

He said in view of the importance of the programme and practical interest taken by the City Nazim, the volume of programme has gone up to Rs 50 billion.

The governor told the meeting that he had made a special request to President Pervez Musharraf for inclusion of various federal government organizations into the programme and got a number of projects sponsored from them.

He showed the resolve that this programme would be led to completion at all costs with the cooperation of relevant organizations.

Dr Ibad said with the completion of various mega projects under the programme, utility services in the adjoining areas are also being strengthened in a better way, which hitherto had been suffering from various interruptions.

The meeting was attended, among others, by local government minister Mohammed Hussain, state minister Tariq Ikram, advisor on finance M A Jalil, chief secretary Fazlur Rehman, principal secretary Saleem Khan, special secretary Javed Hanif and senior officials of federal government organizations.

In the Taameer-i-Karachi Programme, the federal government is contributing Rs5 billion, provincial government Rs6 billion and stakeholders Rs12 billion while the city government is spending Rs13 billion on strengthening of utility services so as to make the construction of mega projects meaningful.

Dr Ibad stressed on accelerating the pace of work on Hino Chowk, Road-8000 (Shahrah-i-Darul Uloom), Quaidabad Flyover, Shahrah-i-Meharn, bridge on adjoining railway crossing etc.

Apart from Taameer-i-Karachi, other projects were also reviewed and a strategy was formulated for completing all the projects in a better manner.

The governor called for monitoring at various levels for implementation of these projects and for cooperation between various organizations.—APP