KARACHI, Aug 17: The Nazim of Karachi, Naimatullah Khan, said on Saturday that work on development of parks on 600 of the 1,200 acres reserved for the purpose had begun and these parks would be fully developed before the end of December, bringing a revolutionary change to the recreational facilities in Karachi.

He stated this while inaugurating Ibn Sina Road, constructed at a cost of Rs48 million.

While driving from Hasan Centre to the site of inauguration, the Nazim spoke to people at three different places as he had to pull up on seeing the people who had gathered to welcome him and showered petals on him.

DCO Karachi Shafiqur Rehman Paracha, Liaquatabad Nazim Dr Pervez Mahmood and other elected representatives also accompanied the Nazim.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Naimatullah Khan said Ibn Sina Road had been lying incomplete for the last four years as a result of which the people were faced with great difficulties. The city government took up work on this road last year and completed it.

He said the city government had started work on 10 other major roads and had allocated Rs1.5 billion for the construction and maintenance of roads.

He referred to the MoUs signed with 16 foreign investment companies and said as a result these investment of billions of rupees would pour in.

The Nazim declared that Karachi would be made a developed city and it would emerge as a model metropolis of Pakistan. He said major development projects would be taken in hand.

He promised that the investment made in this city would be honestly and prudently utilized.

He said the city government had presented a budget of Rs20 billion and it would achieve the revenue targets.

Mr Khan said that for the first time attention was being paid to the development of Karachi coast and he was striving for its beautification. He said the people would soon witness a visible change.—APP