- Urge to empower local govts
- Mayor says all well-wishers of the city will be welcomed
KARACHI: A delegation of the World Bank (WB) headed by its Global Director Anna Wallenstein met with Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar in his office to discuss the World Bank-funded Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project (KNIP) and possibilities of future WB engagements.
The World Bank delegation comprised its Urban Analyst for South Asia Catalina Marulanda and Land Administration Lead Specialist Mika Torhonen whereby mayor’s team consisted of Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur- Rehman, Urban Specialist Sohaib Ather, Urban Analyst Kabir Dawani, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Works Director General Iqtidar Ahmed, Coordination Senior Director Masood Alam, Municipal Services Senior Director Nauman Arshad Director Technical to Mayor S M Shakaib and other officers were also present on this occasion.
The WB team briefed the mayor about its activities in Karachi. They said that Karachi Transformation Strategy Programme envisages infrastructural development including improvement of important roads and stormwater drains in less developed areas along with property recovery system and strengthening of the local government institutions.
Karachi mayor said that whoever would come forward for the betterment of the city will be welcomed and provided all possible cooperation.
He said that the World Bank team visited Karachi for study and review of development projects and we hope that all these projects complete soon and citizens of Karachi get better and well standard municipal facilities.
Stating that Karachi is a big city, he said that in order to bring improvement in this city, we have to coordinate and cooperate with the specialists of urban development and analyst.
He said we want to provide better and good standard civic facilities to people of Karachi. The WB team will be provided with all required cooperation in its implementation of projects.
He said Karachi is a big city needs a lot of resources and the increasing population has put the pressure on available resources. Projects of infrastructure development and transport are important, he concluded.
