NAZIM KARACHI DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR RESOLUTION OF POWER CRISIS.

Karachi Mar 30: City Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has expressed grave concern over the present electricity crisis and prolonged load shedding in Karachi which has caused production loss in industries and sufferings of citizens.

He said to the administration of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation to immediately overcome power crisis in Karachi by utilizing all available resources.

In a statement on Monday the City Nazim said that City Government Karachi had tried its best to provide all kinds of help to KESC to end the suffering of the citizens but the situation is still not getting better.

He said that the present condition and prolonged load shedding in Karachi has besides creating serious problems for industrial production also causing unrest in public.

Nazim Karachi said that being an elected representative of public, it is my duty to bring this fact into the notice of KESC administration and to demand them immediate resolution of electricity crisis in the city.

He said that the KESC should pay special attention on this problem and solve it on war footing basis. City Government Karachi is ready for every possible help and cooperation in this regard.

PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT KEY TO RADICAL CHANGES.

Karachi Mar 28: City Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the radical changes required to bring about social development in Pakistani society could only made possible with the help and support of private sector. Government will first have to restore the trust of people on it if they want to make private public partnership successful.

He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on “social development under public private partnership” in a local hotel on Saturday.

Nazim Karachi said that the city government has presented successful model of public private partnership during last three years in Karachi which could be implemented on national level too.

He said that the country had seen only cosmetic works in last 60 years which had discouraged private sector involvement in public welfare works. Besides many other issues between public and private sector were also needs to be resolved.

Nazim Karachi said that this is the responsibility of government to provide all necessary facilities to private sector without which no society could dream positive changes through active participation of private sector in government undertakings.

He said that first we had performed silently for three years and restored the trust of people on us and then asked the people to own these works. Thousands of people responded to our appeal by playing active role in “I Own Karachi” campaign.

Nazim Karachi said that the people had themselves seen our work and they knew it very well that the government was making all efforts to provide basic facilities to them.

The seminar arranged by Sindh Education Foundation was also addressed by Professor Anita Ghulam Ali, provincial minister Tauqir Fatima Bhutto, Asad Umar, Shams Qasim Lakha, Zafar A Khan and other speakers.

NAZIM KARACHI AWARDED GOLD MEDAL FOR BEST PERFORMANCE.

24 Mar 2009:

Karachi Mar 24: Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) has awarded gold medal to City Nazim Karachi Syed Mistafa Kamal for his outstanding performance as mayor of the biggest city of Pakistan.

The acting Nazim Karachi Ms. Nasreen Jalil received the gold medal and certificate on behalf of Syed Mustafa Kamal during a ceremony held in Islamabad.

Besides Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal 10 other outstanding citizens also awarded gold medals on this occasion in recognition of their services to the cause of the country.

In its certificate for City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal the Council said that Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has done unprecedented development works in Karachi which has inspired his sub ordinates to work day and night for the progress of the city. Citizens of Karachi are fortunate to have such an active and dynamic Nazim like Mustafa Kamal who has now became a role model for all district nazims in Pakistan.

The certificate further said that Syed Mustafa Kamal belongs to a middle class family of Karachi who has got higher education from abroad. His skills unfolded when he was elected as City Nazim Karachi in October 2005 after which he accepted the challenge of making Karachi an exemplary city and has done historical works in just three and half years.

“The broad highways, signal free corridors, overhead bridges, underpasses, pedestrian bridges,modern bus stops, attractive greenery, beautiful lighting, eye catching views and huge gardens provides ample proof of his sincerity and commitment to this cause,” the certificate further said.

Nazriya Pakistan Council on this occasion also awarded gold medal to prominent politician SM Zafar for Human Rights Activities; Dr Zafar Altaf for steps towards self-sufficiency in agriculture; Dr Zaheer Ahmed for promotion of national spirit; industrialist Mian Naeem Javed; Ali Moeen Nawazish, a brilliant student; Naeer Ali Dada, a renowned architecture; Shoeeb Mansoor, a film director and promoter of cultural heritage; Sri Lankan Team driver Mahar Muhammad Khalil; interfaith harmony activist Mahboob Francis Sada, and eye specialist Dr Niaz Ahmed.

NWFP Governor Owais Amhad Ghani was the chief guest on the occasion who awarded medals to the outstanding Pakistanis.

The award distribution ceremony was attended NPC President Zahid Malik and people from different walks of life.
Addressing the ceremony, Owais Ahmad Ghani said NPC was doing a good job as was the need of hour to unite the nation.

He said all citizens should think about development of the country and play their part in all fields of life to achieve this objective.

CANADA PAKISTAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION

Karachi. Mar 22. Canada Pakistan Friendship Association (CPFA) will present award to City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal for his outstanding performance as Mayor of Karachi.

The award will be presented at Pakistan Day Annual Dinner scheduled to be held on 28th March 2009 at Capitol Banquet Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Masood Alam, the EDO Municipal Services City District Government Karachi will receive the award on behalf of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal.

CDGK to start CNG bus service by end of April

B Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) preparations for the launch of a CNG bus service in the city are nearing completion and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal has issued stern directives to the project in charge to ensure commencement of the service by the end of April.

The project was initially announced by the federal government in the 2006-07 financial year, at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion, with the deadline for their introduction being set at February 2008. Under the federal government’s plan, the project would be a public-private partnership enterprise and would lead to the introduction of 8,000 CNG buses throughout the country and 800 buses for Karachi. Initially, 500 buses were to be introduced in the city and the federal government had extended the deadline till July 2008, as confirmed by CDGK Mass Transit Cell Director General Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, who, in February 2008, had told Daily Times that 500 CNG buses would be on the roads by July 2008.

However, as the federal government failed to initiate the project, the CDGK, in January 2009, announced that the CDGK would, under a self-reliance programme, introduce 50 CNG buses in the city by March 15, at a cost of Rs 250 million. However, the CDGK would have managed the introduction of these buses much before as the CDGK had, previously, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Pakistan-based company, M/s Kenhill, to invest in the public transportation sector, with the financial collaboration of a Holland-based company, to introduce 500 dedicated CNG buses. 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.

However, finally it seems that the CDGK has managed to overcome the financial crunch and 50 CNG buses will ply on the roads of the city by end of April. The locally manufactured buses, which comply with international standards, will be introduced at a cost of Rs 250 million. The buses would run on two routes, from Sarjani Town to Merewether Tower and from Safoora Goth via Shahra-e-Faisal to Merewether Tower. Further, there would also be a shuttle service from Gulshan-e-Maymar to Liaquatabad No 10.

The CDGK would keep the ownership of these 50 buses, as well as be responsible for the revenue collection. However, operations would be outsourced to standard and well-reputed transport companies through open bids. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) would be responsible for the maintenance of these buses, while the CDGK would bear all expenses accrued on maintenance.

There would be no need for a bus conductor as an e-ticketing system will be introduced, wherein, the passengers will be issued a rechargeable tariff card that would be valid for five to 15 trips. The CDGK would not charge any fee against the tariff card on the first transaction or at the time of recharging, except if the card is lost.

The CDGK will charge the amount of tariff in terms of number of trips, known as flat fare, which would range from Rs 12 to Rs 14. The passengers would have to submit their CNIC or mobile phone number for the issuance of the rechargeable tariff card. Passengers would be allowed to enjoy facility of at least one trip free of cost if they buy the tariff card for more than 5 kilometers.

SISTER CITIES AGREEMENT WOULD PROVE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL .NAZIM KARACHI.

Karachi Mar 11: Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that the sister cities partnership with Houston would prove mutually beneficial for both cities because the world has now become a global village today. Any problems faced by a particular city or country are now not only their own problems as the whole world get affected with them. Likewise whatever we have done well to any part of the world that should also not be remained within the boundary of that particular part of the world or city but it should spread to all over the world so that we could make this world a better world to live.

He expressed these views while addressing a reception held in his honor in Houston in which Houston Mayor Bill White, President of Houston Karachi Sister Cities Association Haroon Shaikh, Houston Council member M.J Khan other members and a large number of Pakistanis were also present.

Speaking on this occasion Nazim Karachi said that it has now proven to whole world that we Karachiites are there for the whole world and the whole world is now concentrating towards Pakistan in today’s era and Karachi is going to play a vital role.

He said that Karachi holds strategic importance in the region. It is the gateway to central Asian republics and having two seaports operational, the city offers lucrative opportunities for investment and business. We have a long way to go. We have an important role to play in this part of the world. We are just two hour flight to Dubai and all the Middle East market is just there. Marketing this part of the world by sitting in Karachi is relatively easier then doing same from Houston.

The City Nazim expressed hope that other Sister Cities of Houston will not feel bad, since we as the newest Sister, will be engaging Houston the most, because we do not want this relationship to be just cosmetic. We want to make it mutually beneficial for the inhabitants of Karachi and Houston. Karachi is the largest City of the Muslim Ummah and face of Pakistan. We in Karachi will demonstrate our worth to the world with our contributions to the resolution of contemporary problems of metropolis around the globe and that will illustrate to people across the globe the significance of Muslims and Pakistanis

The mayor of Houston said that “I encourage citizens of both our great cities to participate actively in the Karachi-Houston Sister City partnership. By engaging in reciprocal trade missions and exchanges, businesses and people can benefit. It is an exciting opportunity,”

The Houston City Council had approved the establishment of a Sister City Relationship between Houston and Karachi, Pakistan, earlier last month. The Houston-Karachi Sister City Association becomes the seventeenth in a network of “citizen diplomacy” relationships for Houston, under the umbrella of Sister Cities of Houston. And Karachi is the 100th Muslim City in the overall Sister City Relationship between the Muslim World and USA.
Speaking on the occasion the Houston City Council Member M.J. Khan said that The Sister Cities relationship between Houston and Karachi is quite meaningful for me. “The synergy between Houston and Karachi is very strong and the Houston-Karachi Sister City relationship will prove to be a model partnership,” he added.

Haroon Shaikh, the President of the Houston-Karachi Sister City Association said that “We are excited to begin new exchanges with Karachi and will be looking to recruit additional volunteers and corporate members for the sister city association,” he added.
The Houston International Protocol Alliance, a department of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, serves as the City’s administrator of the sister cities program. Houston has also sister city relationships with Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.; Baku, Azerbaijan; Chiba, Japan; Grampian Region (Aberdeen), Scotland; Guayaquil, Ecuador; Huelva, Spain; Istanbul, Turkey; Leipzig, Germany; Luanda, Angola; Nice, France; Perth, Australia; Shenzhen, China; Stavanger, Norway; Tampico, Mexico; Taipei, Taiwan; and Tyumen, Russia.

NAZIM KARACHI ADDRESS TO CONFERENCE IN RICE UNIVERSITY HOUSTON.

06 Mar 2009: Karachi. Mar 06: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that as a result of urbanization the population of Karachi has touched the mark of 18 million and it is further estimaed to reach the mark of 30million by 2020.Population wise Karachi is bigger than 60 countries and it also holds the distinction of 7th largest city of the world. Keeping all this in mind we have been developing Karachi and have planned to meet the requirements till 2020. Due to our this policy Karachi has now become an attractive destination for investors all over the world. He said this while addressing a three day De Lange Conference on Transforming the Metropolis, Creating Sustainable and Humane Cities at Rice University, Houston. The 3 day conference was attended by experts of urbanization from many countries. Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal was the only speaker from Pakistan who delivered his speech on the problems faced by mega cities and their development aspects. The participants and audience at the Rice University Auditorium Hall admired and appreciated the vision of City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal. Earlier the host of the conference Professor Michael Emerson of Socialogy Department welcomed Nazim Karachi at the Conference. He said that Syed Mustafa Kamal is a young mayor of Karachi who has worked hard to provide basic facilities to citizens of Karachi while getting them on board in municipal affairs. He also cited Nazim Karachi's inclusion among the mayors at the moment by Foreign Policy Magazine and said that he got this distinction due to the achievements and works he performed for his city. Nazim Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal in his speech said that Haq Parast City Government in Karachi has while making various measures for solution of basic civic problems also made the planning till 2020. He said that many problems of big cities could be overcomed with better stratregy and good planning. City Government Karachi has prepared a comprehensive Master Plan in which separate planning has been done for every sector. Nazim Karachi further said that we have initiatated and worked on many international facilities aimed at raising the standard of life in Karachi during last three and half years. In this process we have also taken some innovative measures including the introduction of 1339 toll free number to citizens for registering their complaints regarding civic problems for which we have also awarded with ISO 9001 Certification. He said that for sustainable growth we need unity of command in Karachi. Nazim Karachi said that on taking charge of City Government three and half years ago we found the city in a very dilapidated condition but we started reconstruction and rehabilitation work under a thorough planning and a distinct vision in which we got success. He said that geographically Karachi holds much importance in the region.It is the gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia while also nearer to Middle East. Nazim Karachi said that in past Karachi had not proper infrastructure. The citizens were facing many problems. The city lacked any Mass Transit System and the traffic jam was a routine affair. We have initiated a fast paced development process in Karachi during which we worked on the construction of signal free corridors while rehabilitating water and sewerage infrastructure in the city. Nazim Karachi said that Karachi is an international city and we have to compete with other mega cities of the world for which we have marketed Karachi all over the world and provided best opportunities for investors.