KARACHI, Jan 4: The city government has initiated work on an overhead bridge opposite Urdu Science College, on the University Road.

City Nazim Naimatullah Khan laid the foundation of the bridge at a ceremony on Friday.

He said that during the current fiscal year, the city government had earmarked 31 per cent of the Rs30 million budget for education.

Chancellor Urdu University Dr Pirzada Qasim thanked the Nazim for fulfilling a long-pending demand of the people. He hoped that the bridge would be completed soon.

Grants distributed: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Saturday continued the distribution of grants and sewing machines from the city nazim welfare fund among the needy to promote self-employment.

Speaking on the occasion, he claimed that more development work had been carried out in Karachi than in any other district of the country.

Naimatullah Khan expressed his resolve to make Karachi the best city and added that he would try his best to make it the cleanest and green city of the world.

He, however, urged the citizens to extend all support to the city district government in this regard.

The city government has donated a grant of more than Rs3 million, including 500 sewing machines, bridal gifts (dowry) for girls and goods for self-employment for 80 youths, he added.

The Nazim stressed the need for transparency and honesty in all professions and said that the city government had been distributing the relief goods donated by philanthropists openly to avoid any embezzlement and dishonesty.

He highlighted the important role played by women councillors and said that some of them had even participated in international seminars, while their work during the past 18 months was exemplary.

City Naib Nazim Tariq Hasan referred to various grants donated by philanthropist in response to appeals made by the city government and added that goods worth more than Rs2 million were distributed before Ramazan, while relief goods of over Rs3.5 million were dispatched to the earthquake-hit areas of Gilgit.

He pledged that the city government would continue extending a helping hand to the needy.—APP/PPI