KARACHI, Jan 28: The model township, fast emerging on the wasteland at Hawkesbay, is an exquisite manifestation of people’s enthusiasm to make the prestigious project a success and the government’s determination to fulfil its commitments.

A group of newsmen visited the area the other day for an on-site study.

The project has been perceived by the District City Government for the rehabilitation of the affectees of the Lyari Expressway. The rehabilitation plan provides for a suitable, healthy and pollution-free environment for the thousands of displaced families, previously residents of slums and dwellings built across the two banks of the Lyari River. A quality life for these people has been ensured in the plan.

Construction work has picked up momentum over the last six months. Apart from road construction and various other schemes of public utilities, as many as 2,000 houses are being built by people themselves. An infrastructure has already been provided at the new township to pave the way for the physical progress of the rehabilitation project.

Metalled roads, wide streets, electric supply, huge water tanks, sewerage system, schools, mosques, dispensaries, parks and playgrounds are some of the essential facilities on which the work is in full swing.

Contrary to the past experience, the real progress on the model township has unbelievably turned the entire wasteland area a fast developing zone. The town ship is focus of Karachiite’s attention due to having become centre of an immense activity. Such a large scale construction activity has not been witnessed in the city for many years.

The township, likely to be named after Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA), has been funded by the federal government and can be described as the first of its kind in the city’s history. The Centre had provided Rs300 million to the provincial government for internal development.

Spread over 165 acres, the project area will house more than 4,000 families which have been allocated alternative residences in compensation for their houses demolished to make way for the Lyari Expressway.

The rehabilitation project is being supervised by the District Coordination Officer of the City Government, Shafiqur Rehman Paracha.

At this stage, the township has already received power supply whereas transport facility has been made available at the nearest developed area.

An amount of Rs90 million is being spent on power supply scheme alone, according to Mr Paracha who revealed that gas supply would also be available in the township by July this year.

Responding to various questions about the compensation paid to the affectees, the DCO said that each on had been given alternative plots measuring 80 square yards. He said that one plot has been allotted against the affectee’s single storey and two same-sized plots for a double storey building. In addition to the piece of land, Rs50,000 cash compensation was paid to them. He stated that the families had been assured of all possible cooperation from the city government in their rehabilitation.

A group of the would-be residents of the township has established a welfare association which has already become active. The association is currently coordinating with the authorities in ensuring prompt and proper construction as well as availability of all the essential facilities to the future residents of the township.

The project director, Nasir Hayat, said that all houses in the project area were being built in accordance to the approved plan of the Karachi Building Control Authority.

Responding to a question, he said that greenery and flower plantation along the main roads had been carried out and work on remaining parts of the main Hawkesbay was also in progress.

He agreed with a questioner that if, after completion of the Expressway, the adjoining truck stand was shifted to some other area, distance between the main city and the township would be reduced to 15-minute drive only.

Earlier, the newsmen were taken to the site allotted to the members of the journalist community. They were given an on-site briefing about the ongoing development work with the help of maps, layout plan.