The World Bank (WB), as an outcome of constant efforts and interest of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, has finally approved Karachi Rehabilitation Project worth $80 million to restore old city right from Pakistan Chowk to Empress Market.
This was disclosed in a meeting held between Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah and nine-member WB delegation led by Senior Director Ede Ijjaszvazquez. The CM was assisted by ACS (Dev) M Waseem, Principal Secretary Naveed Kamran Baloch, Energy Secretary Agha Wasif and others.
The WB director said that the bank has, in principal, approved to work with Sindh government to launch $80 million Karachi Old Area Rehabilitation project. “This is the good news I have come here to give you,” the WB senior director said.
The CM said that he was quite happy to know that the project has been endorsed by the World Bank. “This is not only a good news for me but it is the best news for the people of my city of Karachi,” he said.
He said that Empress Market was the heart of Karachi and with its restoration and rehabilitation the entire city would start flourishing in terms of its look. The area right from Pakistan Chowk to Empress Market has historical buildings, parks and streets. Along the restoration of the area, the drainage, roads, streets, buildings, utilities, parks and other areas would be uplifted and reconstructed.
Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) M Waseem said that he has posted a PD of the project and Sindh government has allocated $20 million of its share. The PD has identified the spots to be renovated and reconstructed. “We are going to launch the project from December 2016,” he vowed.
The senior WB director congratulated the CM for getting the project for which he visited the residence of WB country director in Islamabad. ‘These were your efforts and vision that it is being materialized,” he said. The CM also congratulated the Karachiites, particularly of the old area for the World Bank project.
First of all remove all these wires crisscrossing and getting tangled. Second improve the housing and uplift the area look. Third limit the type of construction in these areas and allow only those construction that somewhat incorporates the designs and styles of these monuments so that surrounding buildings do not take away the beauty. Fourth raise awareness among the public about the importance of these monuments and encourage them to keep their surroundings clean because without the people support no amount of money will be enough to preserve such sites.
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