KARACHI, Jan 31: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan has said that no administrators would be appointed for the city government in the next two months as there was no such provision in the relevant law.

"Those who are working against city nazim are doing no service to the people of Karachi, he remarked while speaking at a ceremony at the Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases (KIHD) here on Monday. He was briefed about the pace of work at the institute.

He deplored that some elements in the Sindh government were creating troubles for the city government by using illegal and immoral tactics. "But the provincial government's actions and activities are not in the interest of Karachiites because owing to such tactics, people are suffering."

Mr Khan held out the assurance that development work across the city would continue and no impediments would come into its way. He pointed out that development activities depended on available resources, and said that the city government was thankful to President Musharraf for announcing three mega projects.

He said that 50 per cent work on the Lyari Expressway, as well as 39 kilometre stretch of the Northern Bypass, had already been completed. The remaining work of the bypass would be completed in the next six-eight months, he added.

The city nazim stated that the K-III water supply project was also in the stage of completion and it would take about a year to get it ready for opening. Niamatullah Khan recalled that an MoU had been signed with a US firm for the Karachi Mass Transit Project whereas an agreement with another US firm had been concluded for a desalination plant for the city.

The city government was also entering into an agreement, also with an American company, for the treatment of sewerage water, which would be meant for plantation and industrial purposes. He said that the city government was looking for some foreign investors for the installation of the treatment plant.

Regarding his presence in the city, he said: "I have already announced that I will no more undertake a foreign visit. I am confident that I will succeed in finding out investors without going abroad."

The city nazim reiterated his pledge to continue his efforts to make Karachi a city of lights which would have the best of infrastructures and which would be absolutely peaceful.

Mr Khan said that the establishment of the KIHD would prove a source of blessing for the people of Karachi where patients would be able to receive modern medical treatment.

He said that the facility would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in February. Besides this institute, he revealed, chest pain centres at 10 different places would be set up with the aim of providing emergency medical aid within a few minutes after a person suffered heart attack.

Such centres, having one doctor and one ambulance each, would be set up in Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, North Nazimabad, Orangi Town, North Karachi and some other areas.

He was of the view that ambulances must have an allocated route so that patients could reach a hospital promptly. "On an average, six heart patients die while on way to a hospital."

When asked about the allegation of corruption against him, he said his life was like an open book and that his honesty and integrity could not be challenged. He pointed out that the NAB Chief had already stated that no inquiry was being carried out against him.

EDO Works Sarfraz Shah, EDO Health Dr Nizamuddin Memon, Project Director Prof Abdul Samad, Deputy Project Director Dr Khalid, Dr Fayyaz Alam and Prof Zahid Hussain were among a large number of people present on the occasion. -APP/PPI