KARACHI: On final approval of Prime Minister’s discretionary funds of Rs 21.92 billion for Karachi Package, would be dispelled negating doubts of ignoring Karachi.
The funds would be given to Karachi Infrastructure Development Company Limited and in order to ensure transparency in implementation of federal government’s projects, a project management unit is being set up in Governor House.
Most importantly rehabilitation of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation is also on cards, the Federal government has asked KMC to prepare a PC-I with assistance of private consulting firms of repute in this connection. Sindh planning department after its recommendations and approval would submit the same to Central Development Working Party, Islamabad.
The Executive Committee of National Economic Council will finally give signal starting work on the projects. Federal Cabinet has already approved all development projects under Karachi Project.
Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair while talking to media has said that federal government has been spending Rs 75 billion on overall development projects of the metropolis to overcome problems which have multiplied due to a rapid increase in city’s population. He hoped that with implementation of development package a pleasant change would emerge in the city, attracting more investors to it.
The package includes roads, underpasses, flyover, transport, water, sewerage, industrial infrastructure and the purchasing of 100 fire tenders.
It is estimated that Rs 10 billion would be spent on construction of internal roads and Rs 5 billion in alleviating chronic traffic congestion issue in Karachi.
Zubair recalled Karachi which remained the economic jugular vein of country badly needed restoration and development of infrastructure, including an additional industrial area, because with increasing economic activities exports would also increase.
“We have taken representatives of political party onboard for improvement of city while Sindh government was also in constant touch”.
The former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was about to announce new development package for Karachi but owing to circumstances prevailing in the country, he could not visit metropolis. According to package budgetary allocations, Rs 875 million would be spent on construction of flyover at Sakhi Hasan, Rs 890 million on flyover at Five Star Chowrangi, Rs 910 million on flyover at KDA Chowrangi, Rs 870 million on flyover at Dawood Chowrangi Landhi and Rs 658 million flyover on Mauripur Road at LEW.
Similarly, Rs 742 million will be spent on underpass at National Stadium, Rs 523 million on underpass at Askari-4, Rs 228 million on revamping and beautification Ghareebabad and Liaquatabad underpasses, Rs 650 million on traffic solution at Metro-pole intersection, Rs 580 million on rehabilitation of Manghopir Road from Banaras Chowk to Mazar including replacement of water supply line of 66 inches diameter.
Earlier federal government had announced Rs 50 billion projects for the metropolis which are underway, including Rs 12 billion for Lyari Expressway and Rs 12 billion for K-IV water project, while Rs 24 billion has been spending on Green Line project by KIDCL, which would be completed by December this year.
Published in Daily Times, August 24th 2017.
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