KARACHI, Aug 9: The Sindh Minister for Planning and Development, Shoaib Bukhari, said the former city government of Karachi was more resourceful than the defunct KMC but during its four-year tenure, it had failed to complete any mega project with its own efforts.
Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, he clarified the claims of former city nazim, Niamatullah Khan made by the latter in his book titled “Andheray Se Roshni Ka Safar”.
He said before the establishment of the city government, the KMC was the only department responsible for development works in the city. But, the financial resources of the KMC were very limited and the provincial government provided it with needed financial assistance for projects.
He added that the Sindh government had provided a huge some of money to the city government in the last four years under Khushhal Pakistan Programme, Asian Development Bank, property taxes and other provincial government funds.
Speaking of the Lyari Expressway and the Northern Bypass, he said both mega projects were approved and were underway on directives of the president.
He said that many other projects including the mass transit scheme, desalination plant, waste water recycling project, construction of Manghopir and other roads had neither been approved nor completed by city government efforts.
The minister added that the former city nazim had also claimed of helping people get employment, education, health, which were all false claims.
Mr Bukhari said the Sindh government had introduced the Bachelor of Computer Sciences (BCS) programmes in 10 government colleges in the province while the former city nazim had claimed of launching the BCS programmes in six colleges in the city.
He further said that the Sindh transport minister had announced a driving training course for drivers in two phases – ‘Refresh Course’ and ‘Completed Driving Course’ – but Mr Niamat claimed that these courses had been approved due to his efforts.
The minister also clarified that all projects during the last four years were completed due to the efforts of the Sindh government and the personal attention of President Musharraf.
Talking of distribution of free textbooks among students, he said the very project was also lunched by the provincial government.—APP