- Admits price increased from Rs25 bn to Rs75 bn due to bad planning
- Says PM Khan assured to extend support for project in the last meeting
- Demands fed govt’s funding in KCR project like Orange Train in Lahore
- Says must be absolved in NAB inquiry against illegal recruitments in STEVTA
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday said that the cost of Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply (GKBWS) K-IV project has increased manifold and therefore the federal government is expected to generously finance it as per the commitment.
This he said while talking to the media just after performing the inaugural ceremony of Al-Nadi Al-Burhani Sports Complex established by Dawoodi Bohra community at Talpur Road. He was accompanied by his Advisor on Information, Barrister Murtaza Wahab.
He said that the K-IV project was not well conceived, therefore its cost has increased after the work on it has started.
“The federal government was committed to sharing 50 per cent cost of the project when it was approved at Rs25 billion and now it has reached to Rs75 billion,” he said and added he is positive the federal government would share the financial burden and “I am sure the federal government also generously support in establishment of Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project,” he said.
Karachi is a hub of trade and industry and generates huge revenues, therefore in return, it must be repaid in the shape of its development, he said.
The chief minister said that when Prime Minister Imran Khan had visited Karachi, he had briefed him about K-IV project and its growing cost. The prime minister had expressed his intention to extend support and cooperation for the completion of the project.
To a question about KCR, the chief minister said that it was included in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and now a Joint Working Group (JWG) has been formed.
“Let us see what it decides for KCR but I am working on the project myself and hopefully progress would be made in this regard soon,” he said and urged the federal government to extend financial support for KCR as it has made to the Orange Line project of Lahore.
A journalist told the chief minister that the NAB had issued a list in which his name is on the top. At this, the chief minister said that he was always on the top if you look at him positively.
“This was not a reference but an inquiry and I do not think that NAB has issued this list because it has no signature or stamp,” he said.
He added that NAB’s inquiry against recruitments in STEVTA in 2012 is not legal as the STEVTA board had ratified the recruitments. Later, keeping in view legal issues the ratification was recalled by the board, therefore my name should have not been there in the NAB list, he said.
To another question, the chief minister said that the governor is federal government’s representative and he has every right to perform stone lying or inauguration ceremony of the project being launched or completed by the federal government.
“I have respect for the governor and he has a very constructive role in the province,” the CM said.
He said that he would be going to Islamabad to attend the Fiscal Coordination Committee meeting in which World Bank sponsored projects would be discussed and the input of provincial governments would be sought for future world Bank projects.
Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated Al-Nadi Al-Burhani Sports Complex established by Dawoodi Bohra Community at Talpur Road, off M.T Khan Raod. He visited a different section of the complex, including gym, polo ground, arrow shooting club, cricket and football grounds.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah congratulated the Bohra community for establishing such a state of art sports complex. He said that when he was a young boy he used to play cricket with his friends on the streets of Karachi. “This was common in the city and the law and order became worst and people stopped their children from playing onto the streets,” he lamented.
The chief minister said that this was the turning point when children switched over from physical games played in the open ground and in the streets to digital and indoor games. “This is totally unhealthy, therefore, the establishment of sports grounds, clubs and sports complexes is an encouraging move and his government support them,” he concluded.