KARACHI, Nov 1: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, opposing the denationalization of two colleges by the Sindh government and their handing over to the Catholic Education Board, has said that the city government was not consulted prior to taking any decision.

"While the nationalization of the colleges was a mistake, their denationalization would be an even bigger mistake now," the Nazim said in a letter to the Sindh education minister, Dr Hameeda Khuhro.

The nazim said a lot had already been stated at various forums about the denationalization of colleges.

On behalf of the city district government, Naimatullah Khan said he takes the opportunity to put on record his considered opinion and official version regarding the recent decision about denationalization and handing over of city's two colleges to the Catholic Board.

He said although the education department had duly been devolved to become part and parcel of the CDGK, "we were not taken into confidence, and were neither consulted, nor informed."

"The two colleges have always maintained a high repute and extra-ordinary standard of education during the last three decades. Their denationalization will definitely bring miseries not only to students, but also for the teaching and non-teaching staff," the nazim said, while referring to the denationalization of St Patrick's and St Joseph's colleges.

The city nazim said he was unable to understand the very reason and the basis for taking such a decision regarding the change in the administrative mechanism, and urged the minister to review her decision and play a role to get the denationalization notification revoked.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the nazim expressed gratitude to prime minister for laying the foundation-stone of the Hino Chowk flyover.

The flyover is among 11 flyovers and eight underpasses planned for the development of the city and the inauguration of Sohrab Goth and Hasan Square flyovers would commence in the next phase, he said.

He further said that the city government would construct underpasses at Gharibabad, Lasbela, FTC, Hotel Mehran, Sharea Faisal Ziauddin Ahmed Road, PIDC, Sibghatullah Shah Road, Habib Ibrahim Rehmatullah Road and Chanesar Halt.

"PC-1 has been prepared after the designing of two underpasses at Sharea Faisal," he said.

More flyovers, he said, would be built at Karsaz, Hasan Square, Mehmoodabad, Shah Faisal and Korangi intersection, PIDC, Sohrab Goth and Banaras Chowk.

Meanwhile, the nazim, who remained hospitalized for a week, resumed office on Monday.

In a statement, the nazim thanked the Sindh governor and all his well-wishers for remembering him in their prayers.-APP/PPI