KARACHI, Dec 12: President General Pervez Musharraf has called for undertaking concerted efforts to improve the quality of life by ensuring a clean and healthy environment in Karachi.

Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the Clifton Beach Park here on Monday, he said the beautiful park, developed along the beach, would be extended up to Keamari, some 3.7 kilometres away.

He complimented Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad for coming out with the idea of having such a facility, and also Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim for extending all help to Karachi Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, in pursuing this project very vigorously.

The president told the audience that he visited this place at 3am (Monday) and realized how beautiful it looked at night.

“The City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, is a young and energetic man, and has a will to do something for the metropolis. I wish him best of luck. I will support him all the way and I am sure, the governor and chief minister need to support him to improve life in Karachi and to make it a better place for those who live in this city,” he remarked.

The president hoped that this city would regain its glory and the clean healthy environment of the past.

He said he was glad to see the port city regaining its old look of exuberance, and observed that socio-economic activities were picking up all over the country.

He also expressed his happiness over the continued process of the beautification of Karachi with a number of projects nearing their completion.

Gen Musharraf said the nation had seen too much of violence around the region, in our west and east, and also within this country. Therefore, he added, people want entertainment and recreational activities.

“Cultural activities are inherent in any civilized society. As such, we need to encourage cultural activities and provide entertainment to people in a peaceful and clean environment.”

Quoting an example, he said he was at the KaraFilm Festival on Sunday night which, he said, appeared to be a great achievement by an individual having less institutional support.

“We saw so many delegates from around the world at this festival. With the institutional support, we can turn this festival into an event of international standard.”

Culture brings integration within and also integration with the outside world which needs to be encouraged, he said.

President Musharraf also made mention of the Tameer-i-Karachi Programme, saying it had been launched with a view to improving the communication, infrastructure, underpasses, flyovers, etc., in the city

He expressed gratitude to federal government departments, as well as corporations, which were the driving force for the Tameer-i-Watan Programme.

This is for the first time in the history of Pakistan, and of Karachi, that all those using the city’s roads, were actively participating in the projects for improvement in the road infrastructure. He observed that while there was a great activity in this regard, the programme might have been a little slow. However, hoped, it would be speeded up. Once completed, a marked improvement in Karachi’s traffic would be felt, he added.

In this context, he pointed out that the Karachi Circular Railway and Mass Transit Programme were being looked into again.

“We need to move faster,” he declared.

The president was sure that the city nazim would be able to look into the aspect of the Karachi Mass Transit Programme and the Karachi Circular Railway and run it in an efficient manner. He said this would augment the communication infrastructure of the metropolis.

The Northern Bypass and Lyari Expressway projects needed to be completed expeditiously as these would address the problem of traffic congestion in the city, the president said.

He stressed that the KESC, which was in a miserable state, must improve its performance. In this context, he made mention of power theft, line losses and corruption.

The president said that ‘kunda’ (illegal connect) was not the main source of loss in revenue. He said power theft was resorted to more well to do people who would use a number of air-conditioners than the poor.

“Electricity system needs to be improved, and it will improve with the privatization of the KESC,” he remarked.

Gen Musharraf said that after privatization, millions of dollars would be invested to improve the power supply system in the metropolis and, as such, the future of the power supply system in this city was very bright.

Another area needed to be looked into was the city’s sewerage system, the president said, and praised the city nazim for providing adequate funds to town nazims for the purpose.

Regarding water supply, the president noted that the K-3 project, under which 100mgd (million gallons per daily) additional water would be supplied to the city, would be completed in March next year, three months ahead of the schedule.

“This augurs well for the future, and I compliment the nazim for it,” he said, adding that this would help improve the water supply situation in the metropolis.

GOVERNOR’S EFFORTS: President Musharraf praised Governor Dr Ibad for his efforts towards making the park a reality and noted that more attractions would be added to it when Kothari Parade and Bagh Ibn-i-Qasim would be completed.

Acknowledging the efforts contributed by Dr Ibad, he hoped that the Mazar of Abdullah Shah Ghazi is also going to have a new look and Karachi would soon regain its dynamic and rich social and cultural look.

The president also appreciated Dr Ibad’s role in organizing the regular feature of ‘Koocha-i-Saqafat’ and said he had heard a lot about it. He promised that he would visit the same soon.

ARMY’S ROLE: President Musharraf lauded the role of Pakistan Army in providing several parks to people in Karachi. He said that the garden at the Quaid’s mausoleum was Pakistan Army’s gift to Karachi. He noted that the garden had been developed at half the projected cost.

Another gift from the army to Karachiites, he said, was the Askari Park at the Old Sabzimandi.

SIGN BOARDS: President Pervez Musharraf has taken notice of the haphazard advertisement boards all along the city roads, according to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.

The nazim said he was directed by the president to ensure that only standard size boards were installed and the bigger ones were removed.

Mr Kamal said he informed the president that the City Council had already approved by-laws in this regard and a survey was being conducted for the implementation of the by-laws.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal presented a shield to President General Pervez Musharraf on behalf of the City District Government Karachi.

Later, the President performed the inauguration of the Clifton Beach Park. He went round the facilities that have been made available at the park.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr Kamal highlighted the salient features of the park. He recounted the steps being taken by the city government for bringing about a considerable improvement in the city’s infrastructure.

Governor Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Corps Commander Lt-Gen Syed Athar Ali, ministers and senior officials were present on the occasion.—APP