KARACHI, Nov 30: The government of Japan may support a wide range of development programmes in Karachi depending on their feasibility and submission through the federal government.

This was stated by the ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, Minoru Shibuya, during his visit to the HOPE Community Centre in Zia Colony, supported by the government of Japan under its Grass Roots Assistance programme.

Talking to APP, he said an informal request made recently by the Nazim of Karachi for assistance for major development schemes in the city could be seriously contemplated provided it was channelled through the government of Pakistan.

To a question, he said his government was more keen to extend support and assistance in schemes which are for the larger benefit of the masses.

Naimatullah Khan, the Nazim of Karachi, on the occasion said he intended to concentrate on the issue of water loss, water logging, environment and oil spill management. Maintaining that those were the major problems severely affecting the life quality of Karachiites, the Nazim said the city government during the last more than a year had been concentrating on chalking out efficient strategies to address them and was now trying to procure necessary funding to implement them.

The Nazim, speaking on the occasion, thanked the government of Japan for the assistance extended to Karachiites through the establishment of a centre in a area inhabited by some 60,000 people of meagre resources.

He said the city government was keen to make Karachi a “Green and Clean City”. However, limited resources at its disposal made it necessary to arrange fund from varied sources.

Dispelling the impression that Karachi is a city inhabited by rich people, he said no fewer than 538 slums could be seen across the city and the people in general were in dire need of potable water, adequate sanitation and health care.

The Nazim said Karachi despite all odds held a significant geographical status as not only was it the only seaport of the country but also provided the facility to Afghanistan, and thus a gateway to Central Asia.

“The significance I hope could be realised by developed countries like Japan and they would seriously contemplate to initiate industrial projects in the city,” the Nazim said, adding that this would considerably help address the issue of unemployment among the locals.

Dr Mobina Agboatwala, coordinator of the Health Oriented and Preventive Education (HOPE), an NGO comprising doctors and educationists, said the project was launched to address the health care, education and training needs of people belonging to the lowest cadre of society.

She mentioned the reproductive health care programme introduced in rural areas of Karachi such as Gadap besides in Shikarpur, Ghotki and Tharparkar. According to her besides providing necessary facilities to women of the areas due attention was also paid to creating public awareness of HIV/Aids.

She also referred to Safe Water Project initiated by HOPE in slums, including Manzoor Colony, Mujahid Colony, Bilal Colony and Zia Colony, considerably reducing water induced morbidity and mortality among the locals. A programme meant to motivate the people to properly wash their hands was also mentioned on the occasion.

According to her since the major emphasis was on prevention hence the maximum efforts were made to create public awareness to avoid diseases. “The provision to meet their health care needs are also not ignored,” Dr Agboatwala added.

Abbasi, a resident of Zia Colony, said the private clinics and hospitals in the vicinity of the locality were beyond their reach hence the establishment of the HOPE centre was a great help to the residents.

The others who spoke at the ceremony were Mohammad Waseem, Sindh Secretary for Social Welfare and Women Development, and a local student, Rubina.