KARACHI, Oct 25: The city government appears determined not to allow financial constraints to become a stumbling-block to improving quality of life of the people in the city.

Sources privy to the proceedings of a meeting of the Economic Development Council, which was held here on Wednesday for the first time after the induction of the city government on Aug 14, said that all those projects which had been worked out by the EDC under a plan, titled “Programme for Economic Revival of Karachi” (Perk), would be implemented through sponsors as there was no dearth of institutions and people who were prepared to look after the financial aspects of the projects.

The meeting, which was presided over by Sindh Governor Muhammedmian Soomro, discussed the press criticism of the dismal performance of the EDC during the last two months. The vice-chairman of the EDC, Shahid Feroze, pointed out that following the implementation of the new local government system, the city government was responsible for executing all development projects and the EDC was prepared to do its bit in the execution of the projects worked out for Perk.

The Sindh governor assured the city government of his full cooperation in executing the projects and improving infrastructure facilities in the city.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, who being the chief of the city government was earlier inducted as a member of the EDC, appreciated the spadework carried out by Perk.

The Nazim observed the city government had been facing hardships in carrying out many essential projects, like repair and renovation of roads, replacement of water and sewerage lines, improving transport facilities, developing parks, and other basic amenities to boost the city image and improve its economic climate, for want of funds.

He said that before this briefing he had no idea that the EDC had done good homework. Assuring full cooperation from the city government, he asked the EDC to fix another meeting soon to sort out working modalities.

Mr Khan said that in carrying out roads reconstruction, which was one of the priorities of the city government, there was a need for replacing old sewerage and water pipelines. If roads were reconstructed, the damaged pipelines would devastate the roads again.

He asked the EDC to work out some package for replacement of the water and sewerage lines before embarking on roads renovation.

Earlier, recalling the strategy and the projects of the EDC, Mr Feroze pointed out that in the wake of the September 11 incident an improvement in infrastructure had become all the more necessary to attract foreign investment as under the new dynamics in the region, Pakistan would get a lot of attention.

About better transport service, the meeting recommended execution of a mass transit project, plying double deckers or long buses, school bus, and proper use of the circular railway.

Other projects included boat basin, Clifton boardwalk, school reforms, marine park, Hayat Regency, indoor sports complex, purification of waste water, master plan for Karachi, trade enclaves, Gora Qabristan upgradation, solid waste management, etc.

Besides members of the EDC, Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, Sindh Chief Secretary Mohammad Javed Ashraf Hussain and DCO Shafiq-ur-Rehman Paracha also attended the meeting.