Sindh CM inspects uplift schemes, orders removal of encroachments

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, on Sunday directed the Sindh inspector general of police to make necessary arrangements for smooth traffic flow in the city as the ongoing work on the Rs12 billion Karachi Package’s phase-II, is bound to cause inconvenience to the citizens.

This he said while talking to the local administration during his visit to the newly launched schemes under Karachi Package’s phase-II. The chief minister was accompanied by Sindh Minister Jam Khan Shoro and top officials.

The chief minister started his visit from Cantt Railway Station, where all the approaching roads are being constructed at the cost of Rs 240 million.

The chief minister also directed Karachi commissioner to look into the matter of the huge amount of garbage thrown out on the road by the shopkeepers at the Electronic Market in Sadar and take relevant action.

“We are working hard day and night to clean the city but the shopkeepers, despite having dustbins of solid waste management at their shops, are throwing their trash on the main road,” he commented.

Shah stopped at Anklesraia Hospital where construction of a road from Fawara Chowk to Garden via Abdullah Haroon Road and back to Fawara Chowk via Zaibunisa Market has been kicked off with the cost of Rs650 million.

Project Director Karachi Package Niaz Soomro and his Deputy Engineer Khalid Mansoor briefed the chief minister about the work.

Shah directed them to work day and night to complete the scheme. “This is an important road and usually remains jammed at peak hours, therefore its high quality and in time construction is essential,” he said.

The chief minister also drove from Garden area via MA Jinnah Road to Tipu Sultan Road where two different schemes of the reconstruction of Tipu Sultan Road and Khalid Bin Waleed Intersection at Shaheed-e-Millat Road at the cost of Rs239.993 million and construction of a bridge at Tipu Sultan and Khalid Bin Waleed Road Intersection at Shaheed-e-Miullat Road for Rs515.180 million are in progress.

It may be noted that while going to Shaheed-e-Millat Road, the chief minister stopped at Khalid Bin Waleed Road when he saw the vehicles of showrooms parked on the footpaths. Expressing his serious displeasure and anguish, Shah directed the Karachi commissioner to either remove the encroachment from the footpaths or bulldoze the footpaths. “If pedestrians cannot use footpath, then there is no need of such facility,” he said in displeasure.

The chief minister while driving on Shahrah-e-Faisal stopped at Drigh Road where a flyover connecting the Drigh Road with Rashid Minhas Road is being reconstructed. The engineer briefed the chief minister about the work in progress.

From Rashid Minhas Road, the chief minister went to Safoora Chowrangi via University Road where construction of the road and drain was in progress. At the Chowrangi, he mixed up among the people and listened to their problems.

Talking to media at the Safoora Chowarngi, Shah said that he had given clear instruction to Karachi administration and the police not to harass the people while going to Sea View to celebrate New Year night. “I have directed them [police] to remove all the containers placed to block the roads leading to Sea View,” he said and added the people of Karachi, particularly the youngsters were responsible enough and they should not create problems for the public and themselves.

“I am urging them to enjoy themselves peacefully and respectfully. Carrying weapons, doing one-wheeling practices and creating problems for others will not be tolerated,” he said.

“I have the realization that almost all major roads of the city are dug up to be reconstructed and this has caused serious hardship to the citizens,” he said and added that the construction work will be completed in six to eight months.

The chief minister went to Saadi Town and paid a surprise visit to North-East Karachi (NEK) Filtration Plant. When he reached, there was no security at the gate or at the ponds and even the relevant staff was absent from their duties.

The chief minister called Water Board Managing Director (MD) Hashim Raza Zaidi and asked him to rush to the plant. He also directed the MD to give him a detailed report about the numerical strength of the staff deputed in the morning shift.

The chief minister directed the deputy commissioner to deploy three police guards at the NEK Plant for security and keep inspecting the staff on duty off and on.

The chief minister also inspected the under construction Submarine Underpass. The chief minister directed the project director to get one of its sides open for traffic, to reduce commuting problems for the people.