0
KARACHI Karachi Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, along with Keamari Town Nazim Humayun Khan, inaugurated a 62-km-long network of roads which links 70 villages in the rural areas of Keamari Town and Scheme 42 with the RCD Highway, Hub Chowki and Hawkesbay road on Tuesday.
The total cost of the project was Rs400 million. Also included in the project was the construction of three dams, which will meet the drinking water and irrigation requirements of the area for the next three years once they are filled, according to CDGK officials.
Speaking to the media after the inauguration at Mubarak Village, the city nazim also informed those present that a model school was in the final stages of construction in the village.
He said that in order to protect the roads from stormwater, 52 culverts had been constructed at various points.
He pointed out that hundreds of thousands of people were living in these old villages of Karachi, but 'they were not provided with basic facilities for the last 60 years.'
The Nazim said these villages were just as much a part of Karachi as other, more posh, neighbourhoods, and hence the CDGK had carried out development work of the same quality as it had elsewhere.
He said that Mubarak Village is an old settlement, but it used to be cut off from the city after heavy rains, causing shortages of food and medicine.
He said that sick people in these villages used to reach the city in three to four days, but with the steps taken by the CDGK 'a visible change could now be seen.'
Mr Kamal said that when development work was initiated, 'these goths comprised of hutments, but now construction of concrete houses has begun because the transport facility is now available.'
He described the roads, dams and culverts as a 'gift of the city government for these 70 old villages.'
Replying to a question, Nazim Kamal thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, saying 'he listened to our submissions regarding Karachi with great intent and directed the federal and provincial governments to take special measures in relation to the problems of Karachi.' He hoped that the action taken on the President's directive would be visible on the ground.
Addressing the media, Keamari Town Nazim Humayun Khan thanked Nazim Mustafa Kamal and said these projects would bring a change in the area.
Earlier, when the city nazim reached Mubarak Village after inaugurating the projects, he was warmly welcomed by residents of the village, who garlanded him and
