KARACHI, Jan 7: The construction work of Road 8000 will commence from Jan 14. This was stated by the representatives of the National Highway Authority at a meeting held at the Export Promotion Bureau to review the progress of activities being undertaken under the Tameer-i-Karachi Programme of the City District Government Karachi.

The NHA representatives said that planning of the development works for the Korangi Industrial Area was progressing smoothly. The EPB is providing Rs2.5 billion under the programme for undertaking development works in the following four industrial areas of Karachi: Landhi Industrial Area, Korangi Industrial Area, North Karachi Industrial Area and the Industrial Area in F.B. Area.

The meeting was presided over by the minister of state and chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau, Tariq Ikram. City Nazim Niamatullah Khan, City Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan, DCO Mir Husain Ali, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director Brig Asif Ghazali, EDO (Water and Sanitation) Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, EDO (Works and Services) Raja Nawsherwan Sultan, the NHA Member Planning and senior officers of the EPB and other agencies also attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the implementation status of decisions taken during the last meeting held on the subject at the EPB on Dec 26, 2003. The EPB chairman underlined the need for early completion of development schemes by undertaking the work round the clock.

The Nazim emphasized the need for having master plans developed for each industrial area to start execution of works in a properly planned and coordinated manner.

It was proposed that the master plans might be prepared by the NHA which could be vetted by the city government. The Nazim said industrial area development boards would be established to coordinate and manage development works in each of the industrial areas which would have representation from relevant agencies as well as stakeholders. These boards would also oversee implementation works being undertaken in the industrial areas under the Tameer-i-Karachi Programme.

The project management cell of the City District Government Karachi would extend all required technical assistance in the execution of development works for which consultants have already been appointed.

The EPB chairman said the Board of Administrators of the Export Development Fund had agreed to provide necessary financing to the EPB for development of the industrial areas under the Tameer-i-Karachi Package.

He emphasized the need for participation of other stakeholders and beneficiaries to meet the cost of these works. Various options were discussed for putting in place an appropriate institutional framework for construction and management of effluent treatment plants.

The task force constituted for undertaking the development works under the programme was assigned to develop recommendations on the institutional framework for the management of Combined Effluent Treatment Plants. It was decided that the next meeting to review the progress of implementation activities would be held after two weeks.-APP