KARACHI, May 6: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan on Thursday urged private sector and philanthropists to join hands with the city government in improving environmental, health, educational and other conditions in the metropolis.

He also offered the WHO and NGOs to enter into memorandums of understanding in this regard. Mr Khan was speaking as chief guest at a workshop titled Institutional and Developing Children's Environmental Health Policy, held at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH). It was the third day of the workshop organized in collaboration with the WHO.

"I feel ashamed over the deaths of children due to environmental pollution and contaminated drinking water, and regard it as my responsibility to ensure supply of pure drinking water to the citizens, besides resolving other problems," he said.

He pointed out that Karachi possessed no solid-waste disposal system, proper transport and master plan. "There are 538 notified slums where residents have no access to pure drinking water and food, as well as better sanitary conditions. These areas included 52 per cent of the city's population," he observed.

The city nazim realized that private-public partnership was an essential element for progress. Mr Niamatullah Khan hinted at reintroduction of tram service in Karachi.

Referring to the measures taken to control environmental pollution, the nazim pointed out that CNG buses had been brought to the city roads, and the CDGK was considering reintroduction of tramway system which was still functioning successfully elsewhere in the world.

Director NICH Prof Zeenat Issani, Dr Afroz, Dr Raza and Dr Amir Johri were among others who spoke at the workshop. -PPI/APP