KARACHI, Oct 13: A delegation of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government arrived here on a five-day visit on the directive of Mayor of Shanghai.

The delegation, led by Shanghai Urban Planning and Design Research Institute Vice-Principal Huang Jiming, met DCO Fazlur Rehman and Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil on Friday morning.

The delegation in its meeting with Nasreen Jalil informed her that about 30 Chinese companies and 400 Chinese engineers were taking part in various development projects of Karachi.

Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil welcomed that delegation and pointed out that Pakistan and China had a long history of deep-rooted friendship. She said that Karachi and Shanghai were declared sister cities as far back as 1984 and existing friendly relations had further strengthened after the recent visit of Karachi Nazim to Shanghai.

She said that the journey of friendship between Pakistan and China would keep strengthening and expressed hope that the delegation’s visit would prove instrumental in increased trade relations, particularly between Karachi and Shanghai.

She said that population of Karachi had surpassed the figure of 16 million and this warranted the city to have a stable and coordinated planning. She referred to preparation of Karachi’s Master Plan 2020 and said that for infrastructure improvement, the leadership was working in all the 18 towns day and night.

Nasreen Jalil said that the city was contributing 68 per cent revenue to national exchequer but it was not getting its due share. She said President Musharraf was the first one who took keen interest in Karachi’s development.

Huang Jiming said that Shanghai, spread over 6,000sq-km, had a population of 17 million and it rose to 20 million if those coming to Shanghai from other areas for work were included.

The delegation members, including Zhou Dongxiao, Zhao Jiang, Wu Xioahong, Xu Yan and Qian Yulin, Chinese Consul-General Sun Chun Ye and Project Coordinator, City Mega Projects Karachi, Roshan Ali Shaikh were also present in the meeting.

The delegation will also hold meetings with Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and review master plan, development and planning, transport, urban planning and development, urban works and contracts, mass transit, solid waste management and water and sewerage projects during their stay in Karachi.

It will later move to Islamabad to meet Planning Commission Chairman Aslam Shaikh. —APP