The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday to set up an international standard infrastructure in the industrial zones of the city – a step aimed at attracting foreign investments.
The agreement also ensures that Japanese investment reaches the metropolis.
The pact was signed by City Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed and JICA representative Nozomu at the Civic Centre on Friday.
“Under the MoU, JICA will conduct a survey to look for the possibility of more Japanese aid for Karachi,” the administrator said while talking to the media after the signing ceremony. “Presently, there are around 23 units of Japanese investors in the city and measures are being taken to increase them.”
The administrator pointed out that the industrial zones of the city are in a poor state and the infrastructure, especially roads, is in a bad condition.
“This survey would pave way for their renovation, reconstruction and ultimately more investment in these zones,” Syed said.
After the pact was signed, the construction work of the Mehran Highway was also inaugurated. The project costing Rs 188 million is being built with Japanese assistance.
“JICA has assured the city government that the Japanese government will construct 7.5-km portion of the Mehran Highway, if the CDGK constructs the earlier portion of the road from the Hospital Roundabout to the Landhi Cattle Colony and the Railway Track in four months,” said the administrator.
JICA would monitor the construction of this portion of the Mehran Highway that will include building a two-track four-lane road and a storm-water drain on both sides.
In the second phase which will begin in February, the Japanese government will construct the remaining portion of the highway from the Cattle Colony to the Port Qasim. The road from the National Highway from Quaidabad to Steel Town will be constructed in the third phase of project with financial assistance from the Japanese government.
The administrator also appreciated the survey of the city’s transport system by JICA that was recently conducted.
Syed said that the city government has already started removing encroachments hindering the construction of the Mehran Highway.
In the month of December, a team of Japanese engineers would conduct a survey of the industrial areas of the city to find out where roads need to be constructed or the existing ones renovated.
