Friday, February 20, 2009

CNG bus service launched in City

KARACHI - Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi has said that the absence of environment-friendly and affordable urban transport system is the root cause of our urban traffic and environmental mess particularly in the mega cities of the country.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of Foton CNG buses for the City and Inter-City routes at a local hotel here on Thursday, he said that health of our citizens suffered mostly due to the absence of clean and cheap mass transit system.
He said that government of Pakistan was aware of the problems faced by the commuters particular in the mega cities and was making all-out efforts for the provision of affordable and environment-friendly facilities for the people.
The CEO and Managing Director of Foton Pak, Joseph Verghese, said that the key to Foton’s success was quality and dedication towards their products. “It is a name associated with commitment and perseverance, known worldwide for their traditional quality and excellence of products.”
CNG City and Inter-City buses are both designed and engineered in the USA and custom-made in China according to the specification and requirements provided by the CDGK team. Verghese presented a miniature model of Foton’s CNG bus to Afridi.
The launching ceremony of Foton CNG buses was attended by the renowned dignitaries, businessmen and mediamen.

Kamal lays foundation stone of park

KARACHI: The CDGK has served the city’s citizens and has spent billions of rupees on laying basic infrastructure in the city in just three years, said City Nazim Mustafa Kamal, while laying the foundation stone of a ‘I Own Karachi’ family park in Liaquatabad Town on Thursday.

The ‘I Own Karachi’ park will be established at an estimated cost of Rs 20 million.

Kamal said that the Haq Parast leadership has transformed the city and the citizens will find that they are able to reach one point of the city from another within only minutes, while in the past, they had to spend hours traveling the same distance.

Explaining the ‘I Own Karachi’ theme, Kamal said that under the project, CDGK has initiated several steps and the citizens, especially the youth, have overwhelmingly responded to the idea. Kamal added that for the maintenance of this infrastructure, the CDGK has levied a nominal tax so that the city’s development projects can last longer, without any financial hurdle. CDGK has fulfilled all legal formalities in this regard and if it is not maintained, then all the hard work will be undone, said Kamal.

Unfortunately, there are a few pseudo-intellectuals and conspirators who are engaged in creating misunderstandings. They have launched a campaign against the infrastructure tax but they will not succeed in their attempts and people should avoid them and refrain from doing what they are doing, urged Kamal. staff report

Friday, February 13, 2009

IBM DELEGATION CALLS ON CITY NAZIM SYED MUSTAFA KAMAL.


Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that developing park is relatively easy in Karachi than recovering government land from the occupation of powerful grabbers. Karachi is the only city among the mega cities of the world where 18 million people settled even before the preparation of a city master plan. City District Government Karachi is the only district government in Pakistan which had spent a huge amount of Rs.27billion on the provision of water and sewerage facilities to citizens. Haq Parast leadership also got the honor of completing 6 mega projects at one time.

He expressed these views while addressing a delegation comprising over 60 students and teachers from Institute of Business Management led by Dr. Faisal S. Farooqui at his office on Wednesday.

Earlier the delegation visited various sections of the City Nazim Secretariat. They also went to Command & Control Center and reviewed the working of staff at Citizen’s Complaints Management Information Center 1339.

On this occasion a documentary containing details of the development works in city was also displayed. The students and teachers of IBM expressed acute interest in the undertaking of daily affairs in city government Karachi and appreciated the fast paced development activities initiated by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.

Nazim Karachi welcoming the delegation in his office called it a good omen that the citizens especially young students in Karachi taking great interest in the municipal affairs.

He said that this would not only increase the awareness about the development works but would also create a sense of ownership among the people living in the city.

City Nazim said that Haq Parast leadership has given a proper and comprehensive master plan to Karachi. This is the first master plan of the city which has been notified.

He said that city’s first master plan contained all the details regarding development projects and future plans.

Nazim Karachi said that Haq Parast city government has provided basic facilities like water, sewerage system and road infrastructure to each and every area of the city without any consideration of caste, creed or political affiliation.

He said that under this policy we have supplied water to those areas which had been deprived of this basic requirement since as long as 40 years. Different areas of Lyari had got 6million gallon additional water supply after 40 years while thousands of islanders were also supplied with potable water first time in their history.

Nazim Karachi also apprised the delegation about the up gradation and improvement plan undertaken by city government for education and health care sector.

He said that the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and many other hospitals had been provided with latest equipments and machinery and they are now providing best of medical facilities to citizens in Karachi. He said that the Haq parast leadership has also vacated government land from the occupation of powerful land mafia and developed huge and beautiful parks on these lands. He cited the example of Bagh Ibn-e Qasim at Clifton and Jheel Park at Tariq Road which are now presenting quality recreational facilities to citizens.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

CDGK has prepared infrastructure plan for next 100 years: Kamal


KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has delivered a comprehensive master plan for the city, which covers the essential infrastructure planning for the next 100 years, revealed Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal.

Kamal stated this at his Secretariat on Wednesday, while talking to an Institute of Business Management (IoBM) delegation comprising of more than 60 students and teachers, led by Dr Faisal Farooqui.

Kamal said that the city was lacking a master plan despite its geological and macro-economical importance however, the CDGK has not only governed the city well but has also actively worked on the agenda and has now developed a comprehensive master plan for the city.

Karachi’s population has rampantly increased because the natural birth rate has increased and more people from other provinces are coming to the city to earn their bread and butter. This has in turn increased the burden on the city’s infrastructure, causing it to collapse and if the CDGK had not come up with the master plan, the city would have come to a standstill in every aspect.

The governing CDGK has overcome many hurdles and has spent Rs 27 billion on laying the water and sewerage system infrastructure, something that no previous district government managed to do, said Kamal, adding that it also has the honour of completing six mega projects at one time.

It does not matter if the results of spending a huge amount of money and labour is not visible out in the open and people know that the CDGK has provided them many facilities within these three years including water and sewerage facilities, signal-free corridors, subways and flyovers, remarked Kamal.

While talking about his achievements and the difficulties he faced during the past three years, Kamal regretfully said that it was much easier to establish a park in the city than recover government land illegally occupied by influential and powerful land grabbers. He added that the menace of recovering land was the main reason that caused the delay in developing and completing many important city projects.

However, with determination and commitment to the people of the city, CDGK has managed to recover a good percent of the encroached and illegally occupied land and has established beautiful parks including the Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim at Clifton and Jheel Park at Tariq Road on the recovered land, said Kamal.

He went on to say that CDGK has provided basic facilities including water and sewerage system and road infrastructure to each and every area of the city without any discrimination of caste, creed or political affiliation. Under this policy, the CDGK has supplied water to those areas that were deprived of the basic necessity for the past 40 years, said Kamal, adding that different areas of Lyari have also been provided with an additional six million gallons of water, while for the first time in history, thousands of islanders have gotten access to potable water.

Kamal also informed the delegation about the education and healthcare sector upgrading and improvement plan undertaken by the CDGK. He revealed that the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and many other hospitals have been provided with the latest diagnostic equipment.

Kamal declared that the interest shown by the citizens of the city, especially students, in CDGK’s outstanding contribution to municipal works is a very good omen. The students and teachers of IoBM expressed their acute interest in the daily affairs of the CDGK and appreciated the fast paced development activities initiated by Kamal.

Kamal added that citizens taking an interest in the workings of CDGK will not only increase awareness of development work but will also create a sense of ownership among the people living in the city.

Earlier, the delegation was shown a 30-minute documentary on development projects undertaken by CDGK, and was then taken on a tour of various CDGK projects, particularly the Command and Control Centre. The delegation also reviewed how the staff at the Citizen’s Complaints Management Information Centre 1339 went about their work.

CDGK to establish task force to research possibility of earthquake in Karachi

The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) will establish a task force comprising local and foreign experts to conduct research on the possibility of earthquakes in Karachi and create awareness in this regard. This was decided at a meeting chaired by City Nazim Mustafa Kamal.

Kamal was briefed on the possibility of tremors in Karachi, the Karachi Fault Line Zone

and measures to prevent massive loss of lives in case of an earthquake in the city.

International earthquake experts led by Amin Hashwani told the meeting that the possibility of an earthquake exists in Karachi, and it could result in a massive loss of lives due to substandard construction and lack of awareness among people.

The international experts on the team hail from California, US, and have already offered their services for many other countries and major cities of the world.

Kamal said that the CDGK was ready to take all possible measures to protect the lives and properties of the people of Karachi.

He also announced a task force comprising local and international experts to gather data and information on the possibility of an earthquake in Karachi and said that notification in this regard would be issued within the next few days.

The task force would be given the mandate to upgrade hospitals, schools and other institutions as part of preparedness for any disaster while it would also present recommendations regarding improving the standard of construction in the city.

Friday, February 6, 2009

KARACHI PRESENTS ROLE MODEL FOR WHOLE PAKISTAN. GOVERNOR PUNJAB

Governor of Punjab Salman Taseer has said that citizens of Karachi are fortunate to have a very sincere and hard working leadership which has performed development work in such a way that they have now become a role model for whole Pakistan.
He expressed these views while addressing media representatives at Bagh Ibne Qasim on Wednesday.
Earlier Governor Punjab paid a detailed visit to city with Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal during which he inspected various development projects completed by city government Karachi.
The visit of Governor Punjab was started from Civic Center where he arrived with Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan. City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal welcomed Governor of Punjab on this occasion.
The honorable guest was also given a presentation on development projects in Karachi while he also inspected City Government’s Command and Control Center and Citizen’s Complaints Information Management Center 1339 at Civic Center.

Governor of Punjab expressed deep interest in the unique and first of its kind command and control center and said that the citizens of Karachi would get many benefits from this system.

Afterwards Governor of Punjab went to corridor-I & II and also inspected newly established Pakistan’s biggest dental hospital at KMDC where he was informed that the hospital has the capability of providing medical aid to 100 patients simultaneously.

Governor of Punjab also went to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where he inspected the latest facilities provided at Trauma Center and Laboratory.

In the end of his visit Governor Punjab visited Bagh Ibne Qasim at Clifton and addressed the media representatives.

He said today he felt pleasure and sorrow on his visit to Karachi. Pleasure on seeing the exemplary spirit to serve the city and country and development works going on in Karachi for which I would like to congratulate the leadership of Karachi especially City Nazim and Altaf Bhai.

He said that at the same time he felt grief over the fact that the development works carried out in Karachi during last three years were never happened anywhere in Pakistan in the last 56 years.

Governor of Punjab said that he is well familiar with Karachi and whatever he saw today was unthinkable in past. The new modern infrastructure and travel facilities were never imagined before in Karachi.

He said that he has come to Karachi on the invitation of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal and after visiting the city I invite him also to visit Lahore and share his experiences with City Nazim Lahore Mian Aamir Mehmood and other Nazmeen.

Governor of Punjab said that federal government will provide all possible support to the development and reconstruction process in Karachi and he himself will speak with federal government for the approval of projects and schemes forwarded from Karachi.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party has a clear stance on local bodies system. This is the basic of democracy and politics. There might be some alteration in this system for improvement but it could not be terminated. Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan on this occasion thanked Governor of Punjab for visiting Karachi.

CDGK to use solar energy

In a bid to explore alternative sources of energy under the public-private initiative, the city government has decided to use solar energy for spot lights installed in parks and on the streets etc.

The decision has been taken in view of a looming energy crisis in the country. In this regard, the CDGK’s Enterprise and Investment Promotion Department has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) from prominent local and foreign firms having experience in the field of solar energy by March 5. The offers must be in accordance with the required health and safety international standards.

Before entering into an agreement, such projects completed by the bidding firms at home or abroad will also be inspected to ascertain their capability and expertise.

Under the agreement, the successful bidder will be bound to provide and successfully operate streetlights, lamp poles, spot lights, wall-mounted lights, landscape lights etc and hand over the same to the city government within the stipulated period.

KARACHI: CDGK faces over Rs712m shortfall in two months

The pace of work on a number of development projects being carried out in the metropolis has been adversely affected as the Sindh government did not release the full amount of monthly share to the city government during the last two months, causing a shortfall of Rs712.22 million.

Sources told Dawn that the CDGK was supposed to get Rs2.456 billion from the provincial government during the last two months in the heads of monthly share for the salaries of employees of the devolved departments, non-salary city government’s annual development programme for the current fiscal and octroi zila tax (OZT). However, the provincial government released only Rs1.744 billion to the city government, leaving a shortfall of Rs712.22 million.

They said that the majority of development projects being carried out in the city either had to slow down the pace of work or completely stop due to the non-availability of the required funds. The sources said that the Sindh government was supposed to release Rs1.228 billion as the monthly share of May. But the government only provided Rs872.034 million, leaving a shortfall of Rs356.11 million.

A senior official of the city government told Dawn that the functioning of the works and services department had suffered badly due to short release of the monthly share. He said that various projects, including flyovers on Nagan Chowrangi, Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Banaras, major roads including the Super Highway to Surjani, New Karachi, Korangi, Manghopir Road and the construction of community centre in Site Town have been affected.

He, however, maintained that the CDGK, on the basis of bridge financing started work on Nagan Chowrangi and Gulshan-i-Iqbal flyovers to complete the projects as early as possible.

Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani said that the cut in monthly grant was not limited to the city district government of Karachi as all district governments in the province were facing the same problem. He said the provincial government was not getting its full share from the federal government due to which it had no other option but to slash the monthly share of the district government. He promised to approach the federal government in this regard.

However, a source in the CDGK’s finance and planning department told Dawn that the previous Sindh government released the full amount of monthly share to the city government from its own resources regardless of the fact it had received the required funds from the federal government or not.

The source, however, said that the provincial government had already taken up the issue with the federal government, which assured it would release the remaining amount by June 30.

KARACHI: CDGK to fund $200m IT tower project

The foreign investment of about $200 million that was supposed to finance the city government’s IT Tower is not coming and now the project will be funded by the CDGK itself.

Sources told Dawn that earlier the Malaysian conglomerate – comprising IJM Astra Netcom (UAE) and Maldak (UAE) etc – had signed an agreement with the CDGK in July 2006 under which the project was given on a build-operate-and-transfer basis and the CDGK only had to give its land.

The multinational company was to bring in around $200 million to construct the high-rise building and manage it for 35 years to get its investment back as well as earn a profit on it also. The building was to be handed over to the CDGK after the expiry of the contract period.

The sources said that soon after the agreement signing the multinational company, owing to the political situation as well as economic instability in the country, did not feel comfortable with bringing in the investment of $200 million. Besides, one of the partners of the multinational company was an Indian and the security agencies were also not feeling comfortable with that fact and had raised their concerns, they added. So keeping these facts in view a new agreement had been made, with changed terms and conditions, with the Malaysian company, minus its Indian partner, and now funding would be provided by the CDGK while the Malaysian company would act just like a contractor and build the 47-storey building next to the Civic Centre on University Road in Gulshan-i-Iqbal.

The sources said that while under the new agreement the risk factor of the Malaysian company had been eliminated, the CDGK was claiming that the new agreement was more beneficial to the CDGK as it would get the building instantly after its completion and not after 35 years and would earn more than it would have through the earlier arrangement.

They said the new agreement was signed between the Karachi Development Company (employer) having its office at the Civic Centre and the IM Technologies Pak Pvt, having its office at the China Ground, Kashmir Road (contractor).

The new agreement says that the BOT was later changed in view of more beneficial gains to the CDGK if the project is financed by the CDGK through the project revenues and it is owned and operated by itself instead of giving it to the multinational company for 35 years and the contractor’s role was reduced to designing, constructing and supervising the project in continuation of the Phase I agreement. The contract price for designing, constructing, finishing the project building, except tiling floors, walls, false ceiling etc offices, hotel, call centres is $197 million — government fees are in addition.

The sources said that a $197 million revolving letter of credit (LC) was to be given to the contractor on the signing of the agreement. Work would not begin unless LC facility had been provided to the contractor.

They said the agreement said that this was the fundamental term and failure to provide the LC in time set out shall entitle the contractor to terminate the contract.

Any delay by the contractor in issuing a notice of termination pursuant to this provision shall not be a waiver of the contractor’s right to terminate which shall continue until the document has been furnished by the employer and is accepted by the contractor, says the agreement.

The sources said that the agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur for the Karachi Development Company by Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal; DCO Javed Hanif Khan; and for IM Technologies by Sarfaraz Rizvi (US citizen), Dato Goh Chye Koon (Malaysian ID Card No: 490629–08–5463) and was attested by notary public Mansheel Kaur of Selangor, Malaysia.

When Dawn approached Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal about the IT Tower story sometime back, he repeatedly said that the multinational company was bringing in $200 million foreign investment, and he categorically denied that the CDGK was to raise the funds and the multinational company was only a contractor hired to build the building. When requested for a copy of the agreement(s), he agreed and directed his staff to provide the copy. The official concerned, executive district officer of the Enterprise and Investment Promotion department Shahab Imam, despite repeated requests did not give the copy, saying the DCO had directed him not to give out a copy of the agreement. However, he showed the agreement to this reporter suggesting that notes could be taken.

The nazim had also said that work on the IT Tower project was going on, but responding to Dawn’s queries, the Karachi Building Control Authority’s official concerned said the building plans of the IT Tower had not yet been approved and that work had not yet started on it. Though on site heavy-duty cranes, excavators and other earth-moving machinery had been deployed and from 30 to 40 feet deep pit (that probably would serve as the basement when the building was complete) had been dug up. The Malaysian multinational company has also encroached on about a 50-foot wide adjoining road, which separates the IT Tower plot from the Gulshan Town office.

Dawn had approached Sarfaraz Rizvi of the Malaysian company for his version on the issue, but he said that he was going abroad and would return in a few days and speak on it. After that, many attempts were made on his cellphone, but he did not respond.

Ebad calls for plan to improve Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s Mazar

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan has called for a comprehensive plan for the Mazar of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi. He was presiding over a meeting on Tuesday which reviewed the mausoleum project.The governor also appreciated the renovation of the Mazar by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK). He asked the Provincial Auqaf Department to complete the project at the earliest. The governor also said that the premises of the Mazar should be expanded so that more people could visit. He instructed that escalators be installed and emergency exits be constructed. He directed that for other facilities a consultant should be appointed and the process of PC-1 should be completed. The governor was informed that in the year 1995 the estimate for the project was Rs100 million. It is now expected to be Rs200m.

City Council approves Urban Search & Rescue Department

The City District Council on Wednesday approved the establishment of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) department to help trace victims in disasters amidst strong criticism from the opposition. The entire cost, including salaries, allowances, etc on the project will be borne by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK).

The Disaster Management Authority of the federal government will play a vital role in the functioning of USAR and trained dogs would be hired to trace the dead and the injured in case of a disaster in the city. Residential quarters will be constructed for the dogs, dog handlers and employees of USAR, City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, who presided over the session of City District Council, said.

Though the resolution moved by the house was approved by the majority, opposition benches made a hue and cry and even staged a walkout for a couple of minutes over the decision of City District Council.

Opposition Member Sheikh Mahboob said half the city has no access to basic amenities such as water and power, while the CDGK was pursuing unimportant projects. Another opposition member, Saifuddin, said that the Crisis Management Cell was established in 2005 but it has not done anything worthwhile thus far. However, Jalil clarified that members should go through the “budget book” before making a complaint. “How can a project be implemented if there is no budget for it,” she quipped.

Haq Parast member Arshad Preedy brushed aside accusations of the opposition, claiming that the CDGK has done more than the entire development work put together during the last 60 years. “The 2005 earthquake in Kashmir is a reminder for us and it is high time to establish USAR,” he said.

Salman Baloch complained that union councils have not received cheques for the last two months. Jalil told the House that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has talked to the finance secretary on Tuesday in her presence and money will be disbursed soon. However, opposition members said that the district city officer was authorized to release the money and this was the first time that it was being withheld.

Arshad Qureshi criticized the move to give more powers to the Rangers despite the fact that the law-and-order situation in the city was satisfactory. He said that Rangers were acting in a barbaric way and harassing the common man. He said pillion riding should be allowed because there was no law-and-order situation in the city.

Yet another member pointed out that Spencer Eye Hospital, situated near Lea Market, was in a bad shape and requested the City Naib Nazim to visit it. Another member said that UTS buses had ceased to operate and the general public was facing acute transport problems. He urged the CDGK to immediately restore the UTS buses to their routes.

Another opposition member pointed out that land grabbing was on the rise in the city and there were reports that CDGK itself was involved in land grabbing in Baldia Town. A member said that the survivors of a fire in “jhuggis” in the recent past told the media that the incident that took place after the occupants were threatened to leave the plot. He also alleged that chemicals were used in the fire.

Ismael Rajput of Haq Parast group said as town nazim New Karachi, he spent 16 hours at the place after the fire erupted and added that houses were being constructed for the affectees.

Earlier, condolence resolution was passed for deceased members of City District Council and “dua” was offered for the ill members. The house proceedings were adjourned till January 24.

NAZIM KARACHI EXPRESS DISPLEASURE ON POOR PERFORMANCE OF KWSB OFFICERS.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has expressed acute displeasure on the poor working of Chief Revenue Officer and all directors of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board. Taking strict notice of the failure in recovery of bills by officers of revenue department he said that the board can not be run under these circumstances as it would mean cheating with citizens.

Addressing a meeting of the revenue department of KW&SB on Tuesday, Nazim Karachi said that the board under present tariff supplies water amounting to Rs.24 billion to consumers while it collects only 3 billion rupees against these bills.

The meeting was attended by City Nazim’s special representatives to KWSB Imamuddin Shehzad, Muhammad Moin Khan, Chief Engineers, Chief Revenue Officer Mehmood Qadir and all directors of revenue department.

The Chief Revenue Officer on this occasion informed that the board has at present 985,199 retail and 5432 bulk consumers in its network and it collects Rs.3170million as revenue per annum.

Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal while expressing annoyance on this said that he was given same figures in tax collection when he assumed charge of water board three years ago.

He said that despite of the fact that Haq Parast leadership has supplied water to even those areas of Karachi which were previously deprived of this basic facility, the revenue department had never bothered to conduct a survey of these areas to add new consumers in its list.

Nazim Karachi said that the board is at present supplies 450million gallon water to domestic consumers and 100 million gallon to commercial consumers. Under existing tariff it should mean Rs.24billion income per annum but the revenue officers and staff of KWSB had never paid any attention on this.

City Nazim also turned down suggestion of revenue department for increase in tariff, recovery of dues from bulk supply consumers and imposition of water tax on mosques, welfare organizations and government buildings.

He said that the revenue department did not fulfill its duties and it would be better to sack all these officials and replace them with new workers from outside.
Nazim Karachi also called Chief Admin Officer Abdul Rauf and directed him to present complete report of the actions taken against the officers and staff of revenue department during last three years.

NAZIM KARACHI INAUGURATES 4KM ROAD IN GULISTAN-E-JAUHAR

Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that Haq Parast leadership in city government has reconstructed Gulistan-e-Jauhar with a cost of Rs.2800million. The previously neglected area has now transformed into a beautiful locality of the city.

He expressed these views while addressing a huge public meeting in Gulistan-e-Jauhar after the inauguration of newly constructed 4km long road from Samama to Pehalwan Goth on Tuesday night.

The meeting was also addressed by MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi, Iqbal Muhammad Ali, provincial minister for youth affairs Syed Faisal Subzwari, MPA Dr. Nadeem Maqbool, and Town Nazim Gulshan Wasey Jalil.

Addressing the meeting Nazim Karachi said that the area of Gulistan-e-Jauhar was established 35 years ago. Since then it was facing lot of problems. Over flow of sewerage water had wrecked the roads and inner streets due to which even taxi and rickshaw drivers stayed away from the area. Today the same locality has changed into most beautiful and developed areas of Karachi.

He said that we have performed development works in Gulistan-e-Jauhar due to the fact that we felt pain of citizens. We live here and we have been reconstructing every area in the city without taking this into consideration that the area falls into the limits of city government or not.
Nazim Karachi said that we have installed a completely new water and sewerage system in Gulistan-e-Jauhar while the roads have been constructed as well standard tracks which have solved many problems of the area.

He said that the residents of Gulistan-e-Jauhar had not demanded for these works nor they staged any demonstration for that but Haq Parast leadership had itself taken up these projects for the convenience of the people.

Nazim Karachi said that the city government has carried out development works in nearly all areas of the city. We have worked more in just past three years if compared to the total workings happened in last 57 years. The people living in Gulistan-e-Jauhar now have signal free journey whether they come from Surjani, SITE, Tower or Landhi and the distance will be covered in just few minutes.

Speaking on the occasion the Gulshan Town Nazim Wasey Jalil said that all the town nazims in Karachi under leadership of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal have worked as a team to solve many years old problems of citizens.

“The residents of Gulistan-e-Jauhar could not even imagine that the area would become so beautiful in such a short period,” he added.

GOVERNOR SINDH INAUGURATES 5 KM MALIR RIVER BRIDGE.

Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has said that the leadership of MQM has while completing numerous development projects of concrete bridges and underpasses besides making political bridges and demonstrating political patience proved that not only the party has the services of talented and best administrators but the charges leveled at it in past regarding creating disability were also wrong. City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has made the planning for future which also includes the provision of livelihood to people and measures to up grade their life style.

He expressed these views while addressing a huge public meeting in Azeempura Shah Faisal Colony after inaugurating the biggest bridge of the history of Karachi constructed at Malir River to connect Korangi with Shah Faisal Colony.

He said that he felt much pleasure on the inauguration of this bridge as he had also laid the foundation stone for this bridge in 2005 and now inaugurating it after its completion.

Governor Sindh said that the bridge at Malir River will provide convenience to whole city.
He said that it has been always in our priority to focus the problems faced by the citizens and solve them.

Governor of Sindh said that City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has solved the problems of city while carrying out fast paced development process in a very short period.

He said that the bridge has shortened the distance by reducing 28 km and now people of Korangi Town, Landhi Town and Shah Faisal Colony could reach the city centres within few minutes. this is the longest bridge ever built in country and would serve not only people of the surroundig areas but the industries in Korangi and Landhi wouyld also feel the comfort as the bridge has now connected two extremes of city where industries newtwork is present.

Speaking on the occasion, City Nazim S Mustafa Kamal said that the construction of Malir River Bridge has changed the thoughts of " people across the bridge" and now people living in posh areas such as Clifton and DHA who never thought of making a long drive in old city areas such as Liaquatabad and new Karachi are now frequently visiting these areas on a long drive journet and this only happened due to flyovers, under passes and corridors that the Haq Parast leadership has gifted to the city. He added that the new look of city has been possible only after the Haq Parast leadership created a sense of

Earlier millions of people flooded the Korangi 8000 road on Wednesday evening to greet Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan and City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal with warm welcome when they reached Singer Chowrangi to inaugurate the longest bridge in the history of Karachi.

Later the Governor with City Nazim visited the bridge linking Korangi to Shah Faisal Colony via Malir River. They were accompanied by millions of people on this occasion who were chanting slogans, holding flags of Muttahida Quomi Movement and portraits of Quaid-e-Tehreek Altaf Hussain in their hands

Central command and control authority essential’

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has said that that the development of cities has an impact on the entire country, therefore, a command and control system should be formed for these cities at a national level under a coordinated policy, whereby the police, traffic police and all other organisations work under one absolute authority.

Kamal said this while briefing the Senate Standing Committee for Local Government and Rural Development at his office on Tuesday.

The committee members included its Chairman Senator Mir Mohabbat Khan Marri, Federal Local Government Minister Justice (Retd) Abdul Razaq Thahim, Senators Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed, Ammar Ahmed Khan, Akbar Shah, Sahibzada Khalild Jan, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi and Mumtaz Hussain Mahfooz.

Kamal reiterated that special attention needs to be paid to cities if Pakistan is to keep pace with the developed nations of the world, therefore, a proposal in this regard has been initiated at the provincial level. Highlighting the persistent traffic problems, Kamal said that around 600 vehicles are registered in Karachi on a daily basis, adding that the city’s transport problems cannot be solved without a proper mass transit system. However, he was quick to add that a mass transit system cannot be possible without federal resources, as it requires heavy investment that no local government can possibly undertake.

Kamal said that the city government initiated the construction of signal-free corridors keeping these problems in mind and has completed two corridors, comprising of 11 underpasses and flyovers, in just three years, adding that construction of the third signal-free corridor will start this month.

He informed the committee members that work on the Preedy Street project, which has been lying in abeyance for the past 30 years, has been initiated, with the shifting of 1,350 houses that are in the path of the project being the top priority. According to him, the bridge constructed at the Lyari River will be opened for traffic this month, while work on Lyari’s internal water network is making good progress and will be completed within another month.

Kamal urged the need to provide constitutional protection to the law regarding acquiring of permission from the city government prior to the cutting of roads. He said that the city government has incorporated digital maps of all the areas in the master plan to ascertain the exact location of each and every utility.

He backed his claim for constitutional protection by citing the recent bursting of a pipeline during repair work undertaken by the Sui Southern Gas Company. Acknowledging that the disaster management system of the city is not in an ideal condition, he said that a Dutch team has been called in to train around 250 people within six months. Kamal also highlighted the important part played by town nazims, stating that no development work is carried out without their prior consultation and approval.

Touching upon the water shortage in the city, he was of the view that if measures are taken to stop water leakages and theft, then the city’s water requirements will be met by the year 2011. He stated that the city government is already working on a plan in this regard, stating that it would require funding of around Rs 1.8 billion.

The Senate Standing Committee, while appreciating the development work carried out in Karachi and particularly praising the nazim’s performance, agreed that the city should be under one command and control.

CALL AGENT TRAINING PROVIDES ASSURANCE FOR BETTER FUTURE. GOVERNOR SINDH

Karachi Feb 03: The first badge of the city government’s Call Agents and English language training program completed its course as 750 youths out of total 3000 selected for the training passed out on Tuesday. Governor of Sindh Dr. Isharat-ul-Ebad Khan gave away certificates to the participants in a ceremony held at Metropolitan Academy.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, Provincial Minister for youth affairs Faisal Subzwari, DCO Javed Hanif and Town Nazim Gulshan Iqbal Wasey Jalil was also present on this occasion.

In his address the Governor of Sindh said that Pakistan’s first I.T Tower is under completion and the City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has laid the foundation for provision of trained manpower to the project by arranging call agent training to 750 youths.

“This would in fact a long term investment for Pakistani youths that also provides assurance for a better future of Pakistan. Only trained manpower could play key role in the progress of the country” he added.

Governor of Sindh said the BPO at present is an emerging industry in the world but in our country it could not get any attention. Now City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal paid special attention on it. The youths after getting training of call agent would not only serve Pakistan but the whole region will be benefited from their expertise.

Addressing the program Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal said that this is a unique project of city government under which it is spending Rs.120 million to impart I.T and English language education to over 3000 youths who would get a better future after completing this 6 months course.
He said that the city government was first time in the history of Pakistan spending millions of rupees on Human Resources Management to impart quality I.T (Call Agent) and English language training to 3 thousand youths from city’s low income areas and Katchi Abadies.

Nazim Karachi said that city government is spending Rs.60,000 per person for this training. The selection of the trainee was made without any consideration of caste, creed or language as it was aimed to help jobless educated youths to get decent and respected jobs in future.

He said that in past never any provincial, federal or district government in Pakistan spent a penny on the Human Resources Development while the city government has besides carrying out a number of development works in Karachi also taken measures to help provide better livelihood to youths. He further said that the project was unique in the sense that the training would ensure at least Rs.15 thousand a month job to educated young generation which would get even better with the experience. He said that presently the BPO was regarded as the fast developing industry in the world. The investment alone in this sector in United States has reached up to nearly $200 billion. “If we are not getting BPO business in Pakistan than it was due to the unavailability of trained manpower. Therefore we have taken initiative in this direction without waiting for any step from the provincial or federal government, the city nazim added.

He said that the city government could have instead planned some other huge project which the public would have remembered for decades but we did not believed in just getting praise for our works as we work to bring about more convenience and facilities in the lives of citizens.
Nazim Karachi expressed hope that the training program would besides providing respected jobs to our jobless youths also bring about foreign investment worth billions of dollar in the country. This step would provide good opportunities in future to our educated young generation especially for those who belongs to middle class.

Speaking on the occasion, City Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil said that CDGK call centre and its first badge is another milestone in the history of Pakistan. Karachi has always brought about revolutions and the call center’s graduates would also cause a fresh revolution.

Flyover on Korangi Expressway okayed

The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has approved a flyover project that will be constructed on the Korangi Expressway to ease traffic flow on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, from Qayyumabad to Jail Chowrangi.After the completion of the flyover at the Baloch Colony-Mehmoodabad signal, the existing traffic signal on the Baloch Colony Bridge will be removed and the bridge will became a signal-free zone. In a meeting headed by City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and attended by DCO Karachi Javed Hanif, EDOs and other officers of the CDGK on Sunday, it was decided that the work on this project will be carried out without any delay and that the project will be completed in a four-month timeframe. Besides the construction of the flyover, some of the existing roundabouts and signals on Shaheed-e-Millat Road will be replaced with U-Turns. On the occasion, the representative of. the consultant firm briefed the meeting about the project and stated that traffic pressure on the Baloch Colony Expressway and at the Mehmoodabad signal has increased due to the increase in vehicles coming in after the completion of the signal-free junction and the three-tier flyover at Qayyumabad Chowrangi. “Improving roundabouts, removing signals and building another flyover is essential to ease the pressure on existing roads,” the engineer said. Kamal approved the project and stated that the project will be completed in the next four months. He issued directives to improve the Expressway and ordered for arrangements to be made for vehicular parking in the area

CDGK will continue to serve the people! New roads are providing easy & direct access to highway: Kamal

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has said that that the development of cities has an impact on the entire country, therefore, a command and control system should be formed for these cities at a national level under a coordinated policy, whereby the police, traffic police and all other organisations work under one absolute authority.

Kamal said this while briefing the Senate Standing Committee for Local Government and Rural Development at his office on Tuesday.

The committee members included its Chairman Senator Mir Mohabbat Khan Marri, Federal Local Government Minister Justice (Retd) Abdul Razaq Thahim, Senators Hafiz Rasheed Ahmed, Ammar Ahmed Khan, Akbar Shah, Sahibzada Khalild Jan, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Hyderi and Mumtaz Hussain Mahfooz.

Kamal reiterated that special attention needs to be paid to cities if Pakistan is to keep pace with the developed nations of the world, therefore, a proposal in this regard has been initiated at the provincial level. Highlighting the persistent traffic problems, Kamal said that around 600 vehicles are registered in Karachi on a daily basis, adding that the city’s transport problems cannot be solved without a proper mass transit system. However, he was quick to add that a mass transit system cannot be possible without federal resources, as it requires heavy investment that no local government can possibly undertake.

Kamal said that the city government initiated the construction of signal-free corridors keeping these problems in mind and has completed two corridors, comprising of 11 underpasses and flyovers, in just three years, adding that construction of the third signal-free corridor will start this month.

He informed the committee members that work on the Preedy Street project, which has been lying in abeyance for the past 30 years, has been initiated, with the shifting of 1,350 houses that are in the path of the project being the top priority. According to him, the bridge constructed at the Lyari River will be opened for traffic this month, while work on Lyari’s internal water network is making good progress and will be completed within another month.

Kamal urged the need to provide constitutional protection to the law regarding acquiring of permission from the city government prior to the cutting of roads. He said that the city government has incorporated digital maps of all the areas in the master plan to ascertain the exact location of each and every utility.

He backed his claim for constitutional protection by citing the recent bursting of a pipeline during repair work undertaken by the Sui Southern Gas Company. Acknowledging that the disaster management system of the city is not in an ideal condition, he said that a Dutch team has been called in to train around 250 people within six months. Kamal also highlighted the important part played by town nazims, stating that no development work is carried out without their prior consultation and approval.

Touching upon the water shortage in the city, he was of the view that if measures are taken to stop water leakages and theft, then the city’s water requirements will be met by the year 2011. He stated that the city government is already working on a plan in this regard, stating that it would require funding of around Rs 1.8 billion.

The Senate Standing Committee, while appreciating the development work carried out in Karachi and particularly praising the nazim’s performance, agreed that the city should be under one command and control.

Kamal for embracing new technology

KARACHI: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal on Monday stressed on the importance of Information Technology (IT) and said that government organisations could only improve performance by embracing new technologies.

Addressing a conference at a local hotel, Kamal said that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has paid special attention to the use of IT in its departments during last three years. He added that despite various problems that had emerged, the CDGK has taken up the task to build an IT tower that will house a large call centre with a capacity of 10 thousand seats. Speaking about the benefits of embracing the latest technology, Kamal said that CDGK’s ‘Citizen’s Complaints Information Management System - 1339’ project was providing great assistance to citizens in resolving their problems by providing them direct access to higher authorities in government organisations.

City govt to set up public school in Gadap: Nazim Karachi Mustafa Kamal said that the city government is establishing a high standard public school in Gadap Town on an area of 50 acres, for which construction and all other infrastructure has been completed. He expressed these views during a visit to Gadap Town along with Zindagi Trust Chairman Shehzad Roy and Book Foundation Chairman Sami Mustafa on Monday.

Nasreen Jaleel demands lifting ban on councillors’ official study tours

The Sindh government should lift the ban on official study tours of local government (LG) representatives to other cities in order to forge good relations among elected representatives, City Naib-Nazim Nasreen Jalil demanded on Monday.

She was talking to a delegation of LG representatives who had recently visited Istanbul, Turkey. The delegation included Asif Siddiqui, Dr Nighat Shakil, Shabana Shabab, Shamim Akhtar, Naumanul Haq, Arshad Qureshi, Absarul Hasan, Arif Bhatti and Sher Afghan.

The delegation informed her that the local government of Istanbul was so powerful that it could even procure loans from foreign governments. The federal government of Turkey has only three departments — defence, foreign affairs, and finance — while LG governments supervise all other departments.

Jalil said that City District Government Karachi (CDGK) should also be empowered to resolve its issues and accelerate the development process. The delegation further said that Istanbul had a population of 13 million and an annual budget of US$12 billion. This Metropolitan Corporation is divided into 39 municipalities, which are headed by mayors and deputy-mayors. They said Turkey had adopted a modern vehicle tax collecting system and was also paying special attention to vocational training of its people.

Three KWSB officials face action for felling trees

City Nazim Mustafa Kamal ordered the registration of criminal cases as well as departmental action on Tuesday against three Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) officials. The action was taken after Kamal took notice of the unauthorized cutting of trees and digging up of newly-constructed roads by KWSB officials.

City District Government Karachi (CDGK) sources said that officials at City Command and Control Centre (C&CC) detected some people digging in a green belt on Rashid Minhas Road near the UBL Sports Complex and cutting trees without seeking permission from the CDGK Parks and Horticulture Department.

City Wardens and parks department officials were informed.

They reached the spot and ordered an immediate halt to the work. Two employees of a contracting firm involved in the work were also arrested by the City Wardens. After learning of the incident, the city Nazim inspected the spot through the C&CC facility and directed the registration of an FIR against the culprits. It was learnt that the digging was being carried out on behalf of the KWSB and three of its officials (Chief Engineer Mashkoor-ul-Hasan, Project Director Hasan Aijaz Kazmi, and XEN Shafqat Manghan) were responsible for the irregularity.

The City Nazim also ordered departmental action and action against the contracting firm, NPI.

The Nazim said that the KWSB officials had indulged in criminal negligence while carrying out the development activity because they should have informed the Parks and Horticulture Department before carrying out the work. “Had they informed the Parks Department, trees which were uprooted and cut by them could have been saved and re-planted but they destroyed 100 precious trees, which is an unforgivable crime,” Kamal maintained.

He said that the CDGK had launched a campaign for planting trees in the city and at a time when resources were spent on making the city green, some officials were cutting them, which was intolerable.

The Nazim said clear directives had already been given to all civic agencies to seek permission from the Parks Department prior to cutting trees in the city.

No plan for demolition of old goths

KARACHI: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has said that no goth will be razed within the city’s limit.

Strictly refuting reports that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) will demolish old goths in Karachi, he said that the CDGK does not have any policies of the sort.

Instead, it has been taking all possible measures to bring these goths at par with the urban areas. All actions that we have taken in the past provide ample proof of our policy centred at providing basic facilities to goths, said Kamal. The city nazim said that the Haq Parast City Government has taken practical measures for the uniform revamping of goths so that basic facilities can be provided to them as well as in urban areas.

“Hundreds of goths were provided direct access to the city through newly constructed roads, while water and sewerage networks have also been installed in these areas,”

Taking private sector on board has yielded encouraging results: Kamal

Karachi: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that youth play key role in any society as only they could bring about revolutionary changes. Youth in Karachi should proud on this fact that Karachi is a most important city of Pakistan and it plays key role in the progress of the country.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation comprising volunteers of United Youth of Karachi at his office on Monday.
The volunteers on this occasion presented their services for “I Own Karachi” program. Appreciating the efforts of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal in the launching of City Owners program, they expressed their enthusiasm for contribution in voluntary services.
Nazim Karachi said that Haq Parast city government has from its first day in office, tried to take the community on board to ensure drastic changes in these organizations.
He said that besides the bureaucracy, town and union council nazmeen, we have also included prominent persons from private sector in our team which has given encouraging results. Private sector has also contributed voluntarily first time in the public service works. Nazim Karachi said that he himself has coordinated with private sector after constituting especial committees for improvement in health and education sector.
He said that no government can eliminate poverty, but a good government can provide such a favorable environment and opportunities where everyone has basic facilities such as water, sewerage, education, health care and infrastructure.
Nazim Karachi said that city government has ensured all basic facilities for common men in Karachi. The infrastructure has been up graded which has decreased the travel time up to a great extent.
He said that Haq Parast leadership has served the humanity. The youth should now own this city and protect development projects aimed to provide convenience to citizens. Government alone can not bring about revolutionary change without active participation of public.

Funds not released by federal government: Signal-Free Corridor-III

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is facing a tremendous financial crisis due to which the work on several ongoing development schemes, including the Signal-Free Corridor-III project is pending.

The Corridor-III project is scheduled to be operational by the end of April 2009 while funds worth Rs 1,200 million have yet to be released by the federal government for this purpose.

According to sources in the CDGK Finance Department, the federal government had assured the CDGK that the funds will be released in the last week of December 2008, however the amount has not been released yet. The Corridor-III project’s total cost is Rs 1,690 million.

Sources privy to the matter told Daily Times that the CDGK is looking forward to the release of funds worth Rs 1,200 million, while the remaining amount would be arranged from the CDGK’s internal resources.

The Corridor-III is of pivotal importance as the main arteries of city that link remote areas to MA Jinnah Road and lead to Merewether Tower have been highly congested and traffic impediments cause losses of millions of rupees in a month. The traffic congestion at the Tibet Centre, Saddar Dawa Khana and Jail Chowrangi has also depleted the city’s environment. It is estimated that more than two million citizens would benefit from the completion of the corridor and according to experts on environment and public health, the project would cause salient decline in air pollution, while also causing a decline in mental irritation and other psychological ailments among citizens.

The project will play a key role in decreasing the traffic flow on MA Jinnah Road and millions of citizens would be relieved of tension. This project would serve to eliminate smoke pollution and thus the environment will also improve.

The project design covers area starting from Saddar Dawa Khana near Empress Market in Saddar Town to the end of Safoora Goth. The corridor would start from Saddar Dawa Khana to Preedy Street, Quaid’s tomb, new MA Jinnah Road, Jail Chowrangi, NIPA, Abul Hassan Esphahani Road, Gulistan-e-Jauhar to Safoora Goth.

The corridor would be signal free and will have a U-turn from the right side of Abul Hassan Esphahani Road.

The CDGK has already completed a detailed survey and almost all relevant technical assignments have been given a final touch so that the work may be started at once and be completed by mid April.

The CDGK has also planned to shift around 1,350 families from Lines Area. Each of the affected families would be allotted an 80-square yard plot of land alongwith Rs 50,000 for prompt rehabilitation.

Talking to Daily Times, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said that the corridor is the third and most important project by the Haq Parast leadership for the people of the city within just three years. This project would serve the people, irrespective of their political or ethnic affiliation. “It is my dream to change the entire city and to make the people own the city and feel proud to be Karachiites,” commented Kamal.

CDGK to plant 25,000 Margosa trees in Karachi

KARACHI - On the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, the CDGK Forest Department will plant Margosa tree (Neem) at various important places including highways and outskirts of the metropolis in the forthcoming spring season, The Nation was told here on Tuesday.
Sources in the forest department said that President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the Sindh government to launch a tree plantation campaign during the upcoming spring season with a view to curb environmental pollution in the city and give preference to the Neem tree in this regard.
The President had directed the concerned authorities, during his last visit to the metropolis, to plant Neem tree at the premises of Sindh Secretariat, St Patrick School and College, Pakistan Secretariat, Sindh Assembly Building, along highways, link roads and surroundings of the city.

CDGK to provide funding for up gradation of National Stadium

KARACHI, City Nazim Syed Mustufa Kamal said that City District Government Karachi (CDGK) will provide funds for upgradation of the country's premier Test centre - National Stadium Karachi (NSK).

He made these observations to the media during his visit to NSK alongwith Director General, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Javed Miandad to inspect the facilities at the stadium.

He said besides providing the funding for improving the stadium and making it a world class facility, the CDGK will also provide technical assistance and machinery for its upgradation.

Secretary KCCA Syed Siraj-ul- Islam Bukhari, DCO Javed Hanif, EDO Masood Alam, Liaquat Ali Khan and other officials were also present on the occasion.

Mustufa Kamal said city government will provide all the assistance and support to PCB in overall improvement of the stadium. He said all the outer area of the stadium will be developed into a green area.

He said City Government will make all the facilities available to PCB during Sri Lankan cricket team's One-day International and test match against Pakistan here.

Kamal announces ban on water tanker service to industrial areas

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on Monday announced imposing a ban on the supply of water to industrial zones of Karachi through water tankers, claiming that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) is now in a position to supply water to all factories through pipelines.

Talking to a group of industrialists from the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry at his office, he said: “I would urge all factory and mill owners to pay their water bills regularly and obtain water connections, so that they could be supplied with water through pipelines.”

The Nazim said that out of 2,500 industries in North Karachi Industrial Zone, only 600 were in the network of KWSB. He warned that if all these people did not pay their KWSB bills, it would be impossible to run the affairs of the water board.

Kamal said that the CDGK carried development works of Rs4.5 billion in the industrial areas within the last three-and-a-half years, which included the laying of water and sewerage infrastructure. “Now the KWSB is in the position to provide water connections to each and every industry in the city, while water is also available in abundance. It is now imperative that all industrialists get water connections and pay KWSB bills regularly”, he added.

He claimed that the KWSB pays Rs2.5 billion annually in the head of electricity charges alone, and if the citizens don’t pay their dues regularly, the organisation will ultimately collapse. At the occasion, he also directed inviting tenders for the construction of 9100 and 2000 roads in North Karachi Industrial Area, and assured that as soon as resources are made available to the CDGK, these roads would be constructed.

He also asked the officials concerned to carry out a survey of all those sectors of the industrial area which are not included in the Master Plan but have factories, so that water and sewerage connections could be given to those industries.

CDGK sues land utilisation dept

KARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday indefinitely adjourned the hearing of a constitution filed by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) against the Sindh Land Utilisation Department. The bench comprised of Justice Azizullah Memon and Justice Abdur Rehman Farooq Pirzada. The petition was filed through the Works and Services Executive District Officer (EDO). It was maintained that during the days of the now defunct Karachi Development Authority (KDA) a tract of land was allocated in Deh Phiahi, for the Korangi Township project undertaken with the assistance of the federal government. Some of the affected were given due compensation by the government. The petitioner maintained that about five or six people are still living on the land. The petitioner maintained that the provincial government on the pretext of encroachment has restrained the petitioner from regularising the land. The bench after hearing the counsel ordered that the petition be tagged with identical petitions. The bench later put off the hearing indefinitely. staff report

Self-reliance programme: CDGK to invest Rs 250 million in 50 CNG buses project

KARACHI: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has decided to launch a pilot project for dedicated CNG buses in the city under a self-reliance programme.

In this regard, initially 50 dedicated CNG buses, worth Rs 250 million, will be purchased and will be operational by March 15. A well-placed officer in the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) told Daily Times that the pilot project is aimed at facilitating citizens and all the operators will be outsourced on merit. The passengers will also be provided with a ticket-booth facility.

It has also been decided that the CDGK would subsidise the entire operation to keep the tariff as low as possible because without subsidy the cost of travel would be increased tenfold, claimed the officer.

The CDGK has already managed publication of an advertisement in this regard. A well-placed officer told Daily Times that it has long been since the federal government had announced a project worth Rs 2.5 billion for plying around 8,000 CNG buses, including 5,000 large buses and 3,000 small buses, all over Pakistan, out of which 800 are for the city but initially 500 were to be introduced. However, it seems that the project will take many years, commented the officer.

The officer cited a case that caused the CDGK to lag almost a year behind when the CDGK and Pakistan-based company M/s Kenhill signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make investments in public transportation sector with the financial collaboration of a Holland-based company to get 500 dedicated CNG buses by June 2007. The deadline for the CNG buses to be operational was June 2007 but M/s Kenhill declined to abide by the MoU for reasons best known to either party.

It is pertinent to mention that CDGK Mass Transit Cell Director General Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam had also, in February 2008, told Daily Times that 500 dedicated CNG buses would be on the roads by July 2008. In order to improve the functioning of the transport department, the nazim had decided to shift the responsibility of establishing high-pressure CNG filing stations to the CDGK Enterprises and Investment Promotions (EIP).

Thus, the Karachi District Coordination Officer (DCO) Muhammad Javed Hanif Khan had, on March 31, 2008, officially assigned EIP with the charge of establishing five CNG filling stations in the city at remotely located barren bus depots formerly used by the defunct Karachi Transport Corporation (KTC). Unfortunately, these five sites have already been encroached upon, while Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has imposed a ban on establishing new CNG stations.

CDGK restrained from taking action : Polythene bag makers given breather by SHC

ARACHI: A division bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) comprising Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Arshad Noor Khan restrained the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) on Friday, from taking adverse action against the manufacturers and dealers of polythene bags till further orders.
The bench also issued notices to CDGK, Karachi DCO, Sindh and Environment Protection Department chief secretary for January 21, in a petition filed by the All Karachi Plastic Bags Manufacturers and Dealers Association through its General Secretary Khawaja Ansar Munir Sehgal.
The petitioner submitted that they are aggrieved by the arbitrary and illegal actions taken by CDGK, the Sindh chief secretary and their officers and functionaries. They maintained that their association members substantially invested in setting up units that manufacture various types of polythene bags of different sizes and thickness.
It was maintained that 30 percent of the products were consumed in Karachi while the remaining 70 percent were sent to different parts of the country as no other city has the facility of manufacturing polythene bags. They also maintained that polythene products are used for wrapping value added export goods including textiles, textile products and edibles, thus contributing to the country’s national exports.
The petitioners maintained that the “real problem is not due to polythene bags but due to the inadequate and in-appropriate arrangements for solid waste management that include garbage collection and disposal.” The city has a population of 115 million and it generates 800 tonnes of garbage everyday, however, the capacity of the department concerned in disposing off the garbage is only 400 tonnes. The waste that is left is burnt by the officials of the respondent CDGK, contributing to the pollution, the petitioners maintained, adding that instead of admitting their departmental failure, CDGK is diverting attention from the real issue by creating propaganda that polythene bags choke sewerage lines and emit cancerous fumes to justify their actions.
The petitioners referred to the Sindh Act of Prohibition on Manufacture, Sale and Use of Polythene Bags and prayed the court to strike down the CDGK’s action that is ultra vires of the constitution and to direct the respondents to make adequate arrangements for solid waste management in Karachi.

CDGK a role model for city govts: Salman Taseer

KARACHI - Governor Punjab Slaman Taseer got mesmerised on seeing massive development works completed by the CDGK during his visit of the metropolis on Wednesday.
Later, talking to newsmen at Bagh Ibne Qasim, he said that the sincere and hard working administration of the CDGK has made Karachi the role model for whole of the country.
Governor Punjab Salman Taseer went to Karachi on the special invitation from the city nazim Mustafa Kamal. He paid a detailed visit to the metropolis along with Governor Sindh Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal during which he inspected various development projects completed by the city government.
Salman Taseer arrived at the Civic Centre along with Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad Khan where City Nazim Mustafa Kamal welcomed them.

City Council session: CDGK given right to change status of land

KARACHI: Haq Parast City Council (CC) Member and Master Plan Committee Chairman Absar-ul-Hassan has requested the CC that the status of an amenity plot No ST-10, ST-9/1 and ST-9 in Block 16, Scheme 36, Gulistan-e-Jauhar measuring 4,010 square meters should be changed to a non-amenity plot.

Since the Sindh government in accordance with the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001, section 40 (A) has accepted that the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), through the CC, has the right to change the status of an amenity plot or any piece of land and that the Sindh chief secretary has submitted before the CC for the same issue, Hassan tabled the resolution accordingly and brought to the CC’s attention that although the people of Pahar Ganj were given a lease in 1982 they still have not been given the lease documents, adding that the CC should take the case up so that the pending work might be completed.

Ibad lauds CDGK call centre project

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad said that City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has established a base to outsource skilled human resources for emerging multi-billion dollar industries in Pakistan, especially in Karachi.
Ibad revealed that the first batch of 750 call centre personnel will enter the dynamic field of operations by interacting with people around the globe. These call centre personnel will not only represent their employers but will also represent the country through their skills and professional dedication. The governor stated this while speaking to the graduates of the CDGK call centre at Metropolitan Academy in Gulshan-e-Iqbal on Tuesday.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

10 CDGK sports projects near completion

Of the 16 ongoing development sports projects being undertaken by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), 10 projects are nearing completion, while the remaining six will be completed by the end of March, said sources privy to the sports development projects.

According to details, the CDGK has allocated Rs 1.20 billion for these projects and work on these was started at the end of 2006. Six of these projects are of international standards and will be fit for holding events of an international level. These include a sports stadium in Sector 11-D of New Karachi Town, for which Rs 1.05 billion have been allocated, a sports stadium in Union Council (UC) 3, Sector 8 of Baldia Town, with a budget of Rs 1.05 billion, a sports stadium in UC-3 of Gulberg Town, with a budget of Rs 1.05 billion, a sports stadium in UC 12 of Landhi Town, with a budget of Rs 1.05 billion, a sports stadium in sector 11.5 of Orangi Town, with a budget of Rs 1.05 billion and a mini sports stadium in Saudabad, Malir Town, with a budget of Rs 42.514 million, said the sources.

‘CDGK to set up 40 schools for the poor’

KARACHI: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal on Friday announced the establishment of a role model public school by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK). Kamal said that around 40 similar public model schools will become operational in the city soon. He said that the CDGK will bear all expenses regarding books, uniforms as well as expenses incurred in extra-curricular activities.

He made the announcement during a meeting with Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Federal Secretary Naheed Haider and OPF Director General Najeeb Khilji at his secretariat located at the Civic Centre. DCO Karachi Muhammad Javed Hanif Khan and CDGK EDO Education Ibrahim Kambhar were also present at the occasion. Kamal reiterated that the CDGK is fully determined in providing quality education to children belonging to low income socio-economic backgrounds. He said that the CDGK along with the association of OPF has decided to open doors to better educational facilities in city. The CDGK and the OPF are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding so that the OPF can take charge of a public model school located at the Nishtar Road. Haider told Kamal that the OPF has plans to establish three public model schools in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar for which it will need CDGK’s cooperation.

CDGK to establish two more cardiac hospitals

KARACHI: City District Government Karachi is establishing two more cardiac hospitals in Landhi and Shah Faisal Colony and treatment in these hospitals will start within next two months.
This was decided in a meeting of Governing Body of Karachi Institute of Heart Diseases held under the chairmanship of Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal. The meeting was attended by Dr Abdul Samad, S.M. Munir, Masood Naqi, Abdul Haseeb Khan, Yasin Malik, Mohammed Siddiq, Dr A.D. Sajnani, Dr Waqar Kazmi, Dr S.M. Rub, Dr Nasir Javed and Dr Haroon Imtiaz. It was decided that service of absent doctors and those negligent in their duties will be terminated.
Appreciating the overall performance of KIHD, it was decided that phased steps would be taken to make it a medical education institution and provide it with further facilities.

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