KARACHI, March 4: Nazim Karachi Naimatullah Khan said on Monday the Federal Government was taking special interest in the development schemes of Karachi, work on projects worth billions of rupees had started and would be completed with the assistance of the federal government.

These projects include Shah Faisal Colony Flyover, FTC Bridge, 100MGD Water Supply Scheme, Lyari Expressway and Northern Bypass.

Talking to a group of ASPs from the National Police Academy at the City Government Secretariat, th Karachi Nazim described the devolution of powers to the grass roots level as the best system and said this would immensely benefit the country and people.

The group officers made various queries to the Nazim about the new system.

Naimatullah Khan said that like other development bodies, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, too, would be merged into the City Government before June 30. He said the present system had replaced the 150-year-old colonial system.

He said a number of problems were being faced because of existence of so many departments and division of powers among them. Now all the departments would be under the city government, which is the citizens’ elected body.

Referring to law and order, the Nazim said it had remained a problem in Karachi for the last 15 to 20 years which led to the creation of various other problems. However, the city government was trying to overcome them at the earliest possible.

He said since 1830, five master plans for Karachi were prepared at a cost of billions of rupees, but not a single one was implemented.

Under the city government, he said, a master plan department had been established.

He told the visitors that for the first time a board was being set up in Karachi to be headed by the Nazim. This board would be responsible for the implementation of master plan and all federal and provincial departments functioning in Karachi would be its members.

Naimatullah Khan said the city government was taking steps for revival of Circular Railway and a final report in this regard would be submitted this month.

The Nazim said that since the city government came into being, Rs100 million had been spent on the repair of roads and a major and coordinated programme had been initiated for the improvement of traffic system, widening of roundabouts, installation of signals and construction of flyovers.

He told the group that the City Government was running 4,500 schools and 125 colleges. But their buildings had become old and attention was being paid to their improvement.

Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan Khan and District Coordination Officer Shafiqur Rehman Paracha were also present.—APP