KARACHI, Nov 12: The city government has chalked out an emergency, but coordinated plan for infrastructure upgradation of Karachi’s industrial zones, and work is expected to start in a few weeks with construction of roads.
This was stated by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal while addressing a meeting of F B Area Industrial Development Board before leaving for Islamabad on Friday evening.
He said under this billion-rupee development programme, repair and replacement of water supply and sewerage lines in the industrial areas would be carried out first and it would follow construction of quality roads and footpaths.
The board, headed by nazim Karachi, was set up two years back for development of industrial areas, but could not hold even a single meeting.
After taking over charge of the City Nazim, Mustafa Kamal, issued directives for preparing a special package for development of Karachi’s industrial zone, with fast track action for solving the city’s problems.
In the first meeting of F.B. Area Industrial Development Board, basic issues, like construction of roads, improvement and rehabilitation of infrastructure and reconstruction of the area, came under consideration and decisions were taken for immediate solution of problems.
Town Nazim Gulberg Masood Ahmed Hayat, EDO Works Syed Sarfraz Ali Shah, EDO Enterprise Raisuddin Paracha and other officials of the City Government, besides representatives of industrialists were present.
The nazim stated that the purpose of convening the Board meeting in such a short time was that the City Government wants to resolve the problems of industrial areas on priority basis and bring them at par with modern industrial areas of the world.
He, however, said, all development works and plans would be launched with the consultation of industrialists and businessmen.
Mustafa Kamal pointed out that Karachi contributes country’s 65 per cent revenue, with major share from industrial zones whose development would mean “Tammeer-i-Pakistan” because revenues provided by them are used for country’s progress.
He said it would be good if new zones are constructed but the development and improvement of existing ones and solving their problems should be on the priority.
He said that the city government had chalked out its policy with this viewpoint that all the four industrial zones of Karachi should be developed on an emergency basis.
He declared that like Korangi Industrial Area, the development programme for F.B. Area Industrial zone would be announced in one week.
The city nazim said any programme announced for city’s development would not be for photo session, nor for installing plaques without planning, but there would be action.
He said if only roads are to be digged just for putting up plaques, the city roads can be dug just within one week.
Mustafa Kamal said the government is taking steps for attracting investment, but the investment already made must be protected.
KMTP: The Planning Commission has accepted a suggestion by the City nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, that instead of using new technology in Karachi Mass Transit programme, the tested technology be used.
The City Nazim was apprehensive that Karachi Mass Transit plan may not prove successful if new technology is experimented.
The Planning Commission met in Islamabad Saturday under its Chairman Dr Akram Shaikh to consider the letter of Nazim Karachi which he had sent last week.
The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Nazim Mustafa Kamal, Deputy Secretary Finance, Deputy Director Pakistan Railway and other officials.
Briefing the Commission in reference to his letter, Mustafa Kamal contended that the companies which had submitted tenders on BOT basis for mass transit programme had hinted at the use of new technology which was not used in any such project in the world.
Therefore, he emphasised that instead a technology already tested in such projects be used.
Mustafa Kamal told the commission that transport problems of Karachi do not permit the use of new technology, but immediate attention on prevailing problems.—APP