KARACHI, Jan 15: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan has said that every possible step would be taken to control environmental pollution which is proving harmful to people, especially the young generation, and causing an increase in various diseases.

The city government is endeavouring to control environmental pollution by developing maximum number of parks in the city, he said while speaking at a ceremony held here on Saturday to lay the foundation stone of Khwaja Nazimuddin Park, which was declared a model park, in UC-5 Nanakwara, in Saddar Town.

Mr Khan said that in the first phase, construction of 11 model parks had been completed and 10 of them had already been opened to public whereas the 11th one, in North Nazimabad, had also been completed and would be inaugurated soon.

In the second phase, he said, work on 13 model parks had commenced and foundation stone of the first of them in Nanakwara was being laid. For the remaining ones, tenders had been floated, he added, saying they would be ready to be opened to public in the next six months.

The city nazim pointed out that 1,500 date trees had been planted across the city as part of the city government's efforts to control pollution, whereas forest projects at Sohrab Goth, Thaddo Dam and Malir River were being undertaken. Besides, he said, large-size CNG-operated buses were being introduced.

Niamatullah Khan said that the youth, who had been persuaded to quit pen and take up weapons, had now been convinced by the city government to return to the right path and acquire knowledge to play a positive and active role in the society.

He noted with delight that in the recently held City Games, 10,000 youth took part in various sports which reflected their keen interest in social, welfare and sports activities. The ceremony was also addressed by Saddar Town Nazim Farooq Memon Fariya, UC Nazim Mustafa Khan, DO Liaquat Ali and Saddar TMO Raza Abbas.

TRAMWAY: City Nazim Niamatullah Khan has said that in order to solve the problem of traffic jams, the city government intends to ban the entry of cars in the busy business and commercial areas of the city and reintroduce tramway service in these areas.

He said that tramway operating firms would be encouraged to start the service in Saddar and certain other areas on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. The nazim was talking to a delegation of the Super-4 Company of Moscow at a meeting held here on Friday evening to explore the possibility of such a service for the city.

The delegation, through audio-visual equipment, explained their tramway project and informed the nazim that in Moscow alone, 900 trams were being operated. The project envisages a four-door tram carriage having a capacity of 80 passengers similar to those operating in Moscow. The tram could be powered by gas, diesel or electricity.

Mr Khan said that the expression of interest (EOI) would be invited from interested parties in this regard and before signing an agreement with the most suitable one. He said that preference would be given to a party which would agree on establishing a tram manufacturing and maintenance unit and recruit local people.

The Moscow firm's delegation agreed with the nazim and told him that they had already surveyed the city areas and were convinced that a tram service could easily be operated from Mazar-i-Quaid to Surjani, besides the other localities where roads were wide enough.

Niamatullah Khan that the proposal of launching a tram service on M. A. Jinnah Road - from Capri Cinema, to Tower via Fleet Club, Abdullah Haroon Road, Shahrah-i-Liaquat, I.I. Chundrigar Road and other thoroughfares - was being examined with an aim of resolving the chronic traffic jam problem on this section. He said that a meeting would be held next week to examine the routes of different tramway services and other related matters. -APP