KARACHI, Feb 18: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has urged universities, educational institutes and technical experts to assist the city government in collecting data and conducting surveys and research to overcome the problems facing the people.

He was speaking at a seminar on “Civic Problems: Hi-Tech Solutions”, organized by the Usman Institute of Technology (UIT), a subsidiary of the Hamdard University, at its campus on Tuesday.

The Nazim said that although they had not been able to do much to resolve civic problems in the 16 months that had followed the devolution of power, he and his team were endeavouring tirelessly to minimize them.

“Indifferent attitude of the past governments and authorities towards civic problems and lack of awareness among the masses badly complicated the problems. There is need for educated people, experts, scientists and sociologists to come forward and assist the present city government in confronting the problems,” he said.

The Nazim maintained that young researchers and scientists, especially students of varsities and institutes could be a great help in that regard.

Responding to a suggestion, he said educational institutes should come forward and help the city government conduct a detailed survey on the possibility of underground railways and subways in Karachi.

“As you people know, the cost of conducting any survey through foreign experts is extremely high. It can easily be done through students and teachers of our universities without costing too much.

“Like the developing countries where professors of universities conduct surveys, collect data and prepare policies for towns and big cities, our scholars must come forward and realize their responsibilities,” he said.

pointing out that the disposal of solid waste cost Rs800 million to the city government annually, the Nazim said that through the present methods the generation of power through solid waste was not feasible, while foreign desalination plants were not cost-effective in providing seawater for domestic use.

“There is need for local scientists and experts to come forward and devise ways, techniques and local plants for power generation through solid waste and desalination of water to minimize water and garbage problems in the city,” he said.

The Nazim lauded the UIT administration for holding the seminar. He also suggested an MoU between the city government and the UIT for hi-tech solutions of civic problems and provision of expertise in various other fields.

Earlier, in his keynote address, renowned technical expert and scholar, Samir Hoodbhoy, stressed the need for partnership between the government and universities.

Identifying various areas where modern technology and scientific techniques can be applied for resolving civic problems, he urged that science and technology should be used to solve the problems of the city.

“The formation of the city governments is indeed a silent revolution and now IT can be used by union councils and townships to highlight issues, civic problems and services offered by them to the masses through websites.

“The Global Information System (GIS) tools and aerial mapping can be used to evaluate the position of utilized and vacant plots in the city and the dimensional growth of it,” he said and added that environment was another area where hi-tech equipment and techniques could be of great help.

Mr Hoodbhoy also suggested a detailed survey of the city for underground railways and subways.

Town Planner Tasneem Ahmed Siddiqui, in his speech, said the city had become a graveyard of incomplete development schemes. He urged that every government and authorities should work irrespective of their political affiliation, in the larger interest of the city and the country.

EDO IT Yahya Waliullah, in his presentation, informed that people from anywhere in the world could access the city Nazim and town Nazims through the website www.karachicity.gov.pk, and lodge their complaints.

Chairman Executive Board, UIT, Dr Manzoor Ahmed, deputy director UIT, Dr M. Salim Khan, coordinator education UIT, Zafar Ansari, fire safety officer Habib Moin and a representative of the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP) also spoke on the occasion. —PPI