KARACHI: The Provincial Coor­dination Committee — which is constituted between the provincial and federal governments to coordinate for execution of some important development schemes in Sindh — while reviewing the progress of the on-going anti-encroachment drives and some other projects being launched on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode on Thursday was informed that the removal of encroachments was stopped due to court orders.

The meeting hosted by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah here at CM House was attended by Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Ali Haider Zaidi and Syed Amin ul Haq, Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Akhtar Nawaz Satti, Engineer-in-Chief Lt Gen Muazzam Ejaz, GOC Malir Maj Gen Aqeel and others.

The chief minister was assisted by Provincial Ministers Saeed Ghani and Syed Nasir Shah, adviser on law Murtaza Wahab, chief secretary Mumtaz Shah and provincial secretaries concerned.

The meeting participants were told that there were six schemes, including Rs50.50 billion water supply, Rs150.80 billion Sewerage Treatment and Disposal, Rs14.85 billion Solid Waste Management, Rs99.40 billion Storm Water Drains, Rs62.30 billion Improvement of Internal Roads and Rs149.23 billion Mass Transit.

Rs45.14bn allocated this year while Rs67.22 required in next financial year for total Rs527bn schemes in three years, meeting told

It was pointed out that overall Rs527.08 billion was required for these schemes against which Rs45.14 billion was allocated and Rs67.22 was required in the next financial year.

The meeting decided to work out a mechanism to provide funds for their completion.

It was informed that Rs560.69 million had been given to the people affected in the anti-encroachment drive launched along major drains, and now the removal of encroachment was stopped due to court orders.

The meeting participants were informed that Rs25 billion had either been allocated or being allocated on PPP mode for certain projects, including Malir Expressway whose cost is Rs27 billion, Link Road from M-9 to N-5 of Rs6.5 billion, up-gradation of the KWSB Hub Water Supply System of Rs6 billion, and TP-I 100 MG (tertiary treatment) of 34 billion.

The meeting participants reviewed each and every scheme or project and discussed financial mechanisms so that they could be completed within a stipulated time of three years.

The participants decided to complete the Green Line project on top priority basis to resolve the transport issues of the city.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2021