KARACHI, July 6: A Japanese delegation, headed by urban planning expert and president of the Free Time International Inc, Mr Yuske Nambe, during a presentation given to the City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Tuesday at the Civic Centre, informed that the Japan Bank for International Co-operation has been conducting a study titled 'Karachi vitalization Scenario' since April-2004.

The study aims at proposing a mega plan for future development of Karachi as an attractive economic centre through examining of the characteristics of the metropolis and possible scenarios to vitalize it.

The scope of the study is to review characteristics and current conditions of the city, to examine possible vitalization scenarios of Karachi and to examine focused sectors and issues to be addressed to realise these scenarios.

In addition to taking stock of the existing situation and analysing the relevant data, the study plans to conduct dialogues with various stake-holders, relating to development of the city, such as civil society, governmental institutions, private firms, NOGs, academics, etc, through workshops, surveys, individual interviews and group meetings.

The workshops will be held both in Japan and in Karachi to exchange views with different stake-holders and to discuss preliminary findings and recommendations gathered through the surveys.

Three of the workshops are planned to be held in Karachi, besides a questionnaire-based survey for foreign or foreign affiliated and local enterprises in the city, to be conducted to understand the private sectors' views on the business environment and future development of the city.

Individual interviews and small group meetings will also be conducted to exchange views, depending on type of the stake-holders. The delegation informed the city nazim that the second and the third workshop in the city would be held in July 2004, and its final report would be prepared in August 2004.

The city nazim, on the occasion, said that the city government was taking measures to develop recreational spots at the city's coastal areas. He said that six Mass Transit Corridors in the city had been identified to provide better transportation facilities to Karachiites, while 200 parks would be developed on BOT basis.

DCO Mir Hussain said that unemployment was a big problem in the city, adding that the city government was making plans to provide jobs through new schemes and mega projects in Karachi. - PPI