Development of Karachi must not stop at any cost: Kamal
Business Recorder: July 31 2009
KARACHI (July 31 2009): Karachi is among the biggest cities of the Muslim world, and the development works must not stop in the metropolis at any cost as the city is still facing many problems which need to be resolved, said City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal.
He said this while giving a presentation on infrastructure development and progress of the city with regards to job opportunities, and business and economy during his period, organised by the 21st Century Business and Economics Club, a joint venture of Pak-China Business and Economics Forum, here at a hotel.
The City Nazim said there was a long way to go as all the problems had not been resolved, adding that the Haq Parast city district government was not claiming that all issues had been resolved. Mustafa Kamal said when he took charge as the City Nazim, there was a mess and the city with more than 18 million people had no master plan, and added that 40 to 45 percent areas of the city and four industrial zones did not have basic infrastructure such as water supply and drainage, roads, transport etc.
He said he had prepared city's master plan and started developing it by digging up the whole city to provide basic facilities to the people, adding that majority of people was angry on the move at that time.
Initially, he said, he had launched the first project of signal free corridor-I, which was completed within a year with three underpasses and three flyovers. He said such huge development work could only become possible through honesty and dedication of all the town nazims, union council nazims and town staff.
Mustafa Kamal said the city government also provided potable water to some 60,000 population of four islands including Baba and Bhit islands by laying pipelines under the sea, besides connecting at least 72 villages of Hawksbay at Mubarak village by a road network of 63-kilometer.
The city government also established three water reservoirs that could store potable water for three-year use, he said and added that the city government also established 179 dispensaries and hospitals in all the towns of the metropolis.
He said the city government also upgraded Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) with the provision of some 28 ventilators imported from France. At least 118 model schools had been set up in different areas of the city, he added. Furthermore, the City Nazim said the city government in his tenure had established over 334 parks including 130 acres Bagh-e-Ibn-e-Qasim and Jheel Park spread over 65 acres of land. The city government also started 50-dedicated CNG buses on two routes.
Kamal also announced that two very important projects, which included Preedy Street and Signal Free Corridor-IV from Safora Goth to Tower, would be inaugurated by August 14. Earlier, welcoming the City Nazim, founder chairman of Pak-China Business and Economics Forum Syed S Haider lauded the services of Mustafa Kamal for the city. MNA Khushbakht Shujat said the 21st Century was engaged in many corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
"We have published five books under Business and Economic Visionaries of Pakistan series as free public service. The latest book on Saifuddin Zoomkawala is now ready and shall be launched in next 15 days," she added. Later, City Nazim Mustafa Kamal gave away two awards ie Women Forum Award to Muniza Sheikh, Head Business Risk Review Silkband Limited, and Overseas Universities Alumni (OUAC) award to Aamir Altaf Qureshi, Director South Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited. Shujat Ali Baig and a large number of foreigners, diplomats, bureaucrats and city's elite attended the event.