KARACHI, Sept 21: Sindh Minister for Home and Forests Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has said that it has been decided in principle to approach the federal government for the release of funds for the completion of the Lyari Expressway.

The minister was chairing a meeting of the planning and development committee of the Lyari Development Package (LDP).

Provincial Minister for Human Rights Nadia Gabol, Minister for Katchi Abadis Rafiq Engineer, additional chief secretary, and secretaries of home, finance and local government, besides nazims of Lyari Town and the concerned UCs, attended the meeting.

Dr Mirza called for a review of all ongoing and proposed development schemes pertaining to the town with a view to ensure timely completion of the schemes on their merit. In this regard, he directed that all those schemes which were picked up for execution under the LDP be removed from the merit list in order to reduce expenditure and ensure transparency.

He informed the meeting that the “Benazir Bhutto Income Support Scheme” was being launched for the jobless youth of Lyari. Under the scheme, 1,000-2,000 jobless youths, both male and female, would be imparted technical training. During the training period, they would be paid a stipend of Rs4,000 to Rs7,000 per month, he added.

Referring to the development schemes proposed by Nadia Gabol, Rafiq Engineer and Nabil Gabol, the home minister called for their expeditious completion soon after the fresh review. He issued necessary instructions to the additional chief secretary in this regard.

Ms Gabol emphasised that the projects aimed at promoting educational activities, environmental improvement and healthy practices should be included in the development plan.

She said she would have a detailed meeting with city nazim to sort out the CDGK-related problems obstructing timely completion of Lyari Town’s ongoing schemes.

The town nazim informed the meeting that eight ongoing schemes pertaining to the repair and construction of roads would be completed within two months.

Rafiq Engineer pointed out that although water pipelines had been laid in the town, Lyari citizens were receiving inadequate water mainly because of load-shedding.

Dr Mirza told the meeting that sewerage and water supply schemes should be kept on top of the merit list of the proposed schemes. He said another meeting of the committee would be held on Sept 23, and asked all the officials concerned to attend it fully prepared with facts and figures regarding the expenditures involved and details/utility of the proposed schemes.

He called for completion of the work on the installation of streetlights under the LDP within the next six months.

He also announced provision of electric water coolers fitted with filters for 10 Lyari schools.

—APP