KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday urged the federal government to provide matching funds for the Rs802.39 billion 24 uplift projects for the transformation of Karachi.

Addressing a press conference here at Chief Minister House, he said that the provincial government had launched the projects and requested the federal government to provide a matching grant so that the projects could be completed in time. Flanked by provincial ministers Saeed Ghani and Nasir Shah, adviser on law Murtaza Wahab and special assistant Waqar Mehdi, Mr Shah gave details of the projects.

Water supply

The project he shared with the media included K-IV phase-I of 260mgd of Rs60bn and said that so far Rs11.3bn had been utilised and still Rs46.30bn was required.

He said that augmentation of the existing bulk water supply would be funded through World Bank project KWSSIP phase-II of Rs20bn. He said that there was a 30mgd water supply scheme for district South for Rs7bn.

Besides, Mr Shah said, other water supply schemes included upgrade of KWSB Hub water supply system for Rs6bn.

He said that 30 water supply schemes were being launched under the ADP programme for Rs17.50bn.

‘Appointment of KMC administrator is the authority of the provincial govt’

Sewerage

He said the Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III), including treatment plants of TP-I and TP-III for treatment of 150-300mgd for Rs36.2 million was in progress and Rs10.7m had been utilised.

The chief minister also discussed other sewerage projects.

Solid waste

He said that solid waste management schemes included establishment of three garbage transfer stations and two landfill sites under the Sindh Solid Waste Emergency & Efficiency Project (SWEEP) for Rs10bn, transfer station for solid waste management for Rs1.40bn etc.

Storm-water drains

He said that there was a scheme for cleaning of water from nullahs/temporary storage and dewatering facility for Rs1.7bn and 10 ADP schemes of storm-water drains and nullahs for Rs3bn.

Roads

The CM said that the Karachi uplift projects also included construction of Malir Expressway for Rs27bn, link road from M9 to N5 for Rs6.5bn, construction of two roads, Korangi and Malir through the World Bank for Rs2.9bn, 83 ADP schemes of internal roads in Karachi for Rs25bn against which Rs13.1bn had been utilised.

Mass transit

He said that the mass transit projects included the KCR for Rs300bn, construction of boundary fencing along the existing alignment of KCR for Rs23m, construction of underpasses/flyovers on railway crossings along the KCR route for Rs5bn etc.

The chief minister said that if the federal government extended financial help generously, we would be able to change life and facilities in the city at par with other developed cities.

Rainfall

He said that from July 20 to Aug 20 Karachi received unprecedented rains. He said the heavy rains claimed 101 lives across the province, including 63 deaths in Karachi, and destroyed roads, drainage and storm-water drain infrastructure and other establishments.

Mr Shah shared a long list of the roads damaged in the city and said they needed to be reconstructed.

Murad Ali Shah talking about the affected people in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Karachi divisions said that the government was providing food, water, medical facilities and veterinary facilities at the camps.

KMC administrator

Answering a question, the chief minister said that the appointment of KMC administrator and administrators of other local bodies was the prerogative of the provincial government. He said: “We are consulting with everyone in this regard.” He added that the administrators would be appointed shortly.

LB polls

Replying to another question, the chief minister said that the Council of Common Interests was competent to notify the 2017 census. “We have some reservations [about] the census but the federal government [should address] the reservations first and then notify the census so that delimitations can be made,” he said and added that once the delimitation was done, the provincial government would go ahead with holding of local bodies election.

Replying to another question about the constitution of the Island Development Authority by the federal government, the chief minister said that any development made in the interest of the people of Sindh would be welcomed, otherwise no such action would be accepted. He added that as far as the islands were concerned, they belonged to the provincial government.

UAE envoy

Meanwhile, Ambassador of UAE Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi called on the chief minister and expressed solidarity over the losses of life and property in recent heavy rains.

The chief minister thanked him for his courtesy and said the heavy downpour had wreaked havoc in all the districts of Mirpurkhas division, Sujawal and Badin of Hyderabad division.

Nadra chairman

Nadra chairman Usman Yousaf Mobin called on the chief minister and discussed the projects his organisation was doing with the provincial government.

The chief minister appreciated the database of Nadra and urged him to share required data with the Sindh government so that the same could be used for relief work.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2020