KARACHI, Oct 11: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has called for undertaking afresh delimitation works to increase the number of towns and union councils in the city prior to the next local bodies elections.

"The exercise for carving out new towns and union councils must be carried out keeping in view the ever-increasing population of the metropolis," he said, suggesting that the number of towns should be increased from existing 18 to 36 and union councils from 178 to 250.

The nazim expressed these views at the inaugural ceremony of Mubarak Village dam (Retention Weir) built in Keamari Town's Union Council Gabopat at a cost of Rs4.595 million.

The 180-feet long and 23-feet above bed level Mubarak Village dam has been built with financial support of the World Bank under Drought Emergency Relief Assistance Programme (DERA). Having a capacity of storing about 7.5 million gallons of water in one rain, the dam will provide drinking water to 2000 individuals in a year.

Emphasizing the need for carving out more towns and union councils, he said that such an exercise would not only help in expediting the pace of developmental activities but would also help resolve the people's problems at their doorsteps.

Referring to the issues of Mubarak Village, most of its habitants are fishermen, he regretted that although Karachi was initially a fishermen's abode, they were ignored most in every sphere of life.

He deplored that since no comprehensive planning was ever made in the country for welfare of the poor, a number of villages are still deprived of water, electricity and other basic civic facilities.

The nazim announced that the city government would take measures for constructing a jetty in Mubarak Village, which would help generate more jobs for fishermen. He also assured the residents of Mubarak Village that the city government would take every possible measure to help provide schools, hospitals and other basic necessities of life in all the localities, which are inhabited by fishermen.

Regarding Mubarak Village's dispensary, he said that the city government would shortly appoint a doctor, besides providing medicines and other facilities at the dispensary.

Besides, a 10-bed hospital would be constructed in Mubarak Village, he said adding that the project has been approved forits inclusion in the annual development plan.

Earlier, Gabopat's Union Council Nazim Mubarak Baloch informed the city nazim that an overhead tank was being constructed in the Mubarak Village at a cost of Rs2.4 million. At the outset, he demanded of the city nazim to construct a jetty in the village, saying that it would benefit fishermen residing in 50 localities of the union council.

Meanwhile, Naimatullah Khan said that the deteriorating conditions in the country were outcome of corruption and violation of merit. Talking to a 19-member delegation of nazims which is on a study visit to Karachi from the NWFP, he said that by following rules of honesty, merit and transparency Pakistan could be made a developed country.

He said that people from different cities of the country came to Karachi in search of jobs, as 75 per cent of industries were situated here in the metropolis. The nazim said that the city district government of Karachi was making efforts for sustainable development and to turn Karachi into a model city.

He said that a conspiracy was hatched against Karachi in the past, which created law and order situation and affected its economic development. He told the delegation that Rs90 million were saved in the construction of Shah Faisal Flyover and Rs190 million in other developmental projects just because of honesty.

Naimatullah Khan said that no budget in Karachi was made over six billion rupees in the past but, this city government had presented its first budget of Rs20 billion, second of Rs27 billion and third of Rs32 billion without levying new taxes.

"City Council approved current fiscal year budget within a few minutes, which is a record," he added. The delegation lauded the services of Karachi Nazim and said that developmental activities in Karachi were visible.

Later, the delegation visited Rizwan Park, Saman Park, Safari Park, FTC flyover site, Shahrah-i-Quaideen flyover site and other ongoing projects.