KARACHI, Dec 17: President Pervez Musharraf has said that he foresees Karachi having a very different look within three to four years and it will be a pride for 14 million people living in the metropolis.

Speaking as the chief guest at the ground-breaking ceremony of development and rehabilitation of Mai Kolachi Road and M.T. Khan Road on Friday, the president said that mega projects like Northern Bypass, Lyari Expressway, Karachi Circular Railway, Mass Transit Programme would not only improve traffic conditions but also give a new look to the city.

The Mass Transit Programme was being examined further, he said adding that two choices are available regarding this project and a decision to this end would be made in the greater interest of Karachi.

He said that the options included the overhead mono-rail running through a magnetic system with latest technology and the combination of sub-way and the rail. He made it clear that a decision would soon be taken considering the cheapest and futuristic option that would be in the interest of Karachi.

He recalled that the idea of roads' rehabilitation came to the fore in view of growing traffic problems and after the heavy monsoon during which a number of roads were damaged.

It was agreed that the federal, provincial and district governments would contribute their share for bringing about the required improvements in the infrastructure, the organizations that also use the city roads should also be part of such an initiative.

In this connection, he also cited the example of Sialkot where the industrial community started repairing and improving the roads and made it a beautiful city.

General Musharraf was of the view that the example that has been set in Sialkot and Karachi should be followed in other cities too. He said there was no doubt that the government had a responsibility to this effect but when resources were limited, there was no harm in extending cooperation and sharing the work.

Lauding the role of Karachi Port Trust in city's development, General Musharraf pointed out that the KPT had taken up the project of three-tier flyover at Hino Chowk which was the first of its kind in Pakistan.

Referring to the KPT project of development and rehabilitation of road from Mai Kolachi to Submarine Chowk, he said that it would be a significant contribution towards improving the flow of traffic. He further said that the development and rehabilitation of M.T. Khan Road from Jinnah Bridge to PIDC Bridge would also greatly help in improving the flow of traffic.

General Musharraf said that another gift by the KPT was the Port Tower Complex, which would be a monumental structure for the city. He pointed out that this 1,500-feet-high complex would be the tallest tower in Asia.

He was optimistic that the ground-breaking of this project would be performed by the next month. The construction work of this project would be taken up speedily, he said, and expressed hope that with the dynamism exhibited by Minister of Port and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, the complex project would go ahead rapidly.

He also referred to the construction of the Port Water Jet in Arabian Sea near Oyster Rocks which was going to be the tallest in the world. He said that the work on this project would commence soon and the project would be inaugurated on Aug 14, 2005.

Minister for Ports and Shipping, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri also sopke on the occasion. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, KPT Chairman Vice-Admiral Ahmed Hayat were also present on the occasion. -APP