Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that he was planning to introduce institutional reforms in Karachi Water Board to resolve the issue of shortage of water in the metropolis city for which he was looking forward for international support.
The chief minister was talking to German Ambassador Tilo Klinner who called on him along with his Consul General in Karachi Rainer Schmiedchen. Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput was also present on the occasion.
Talking about the development of infrastructure of the city for which he was lauded by the visiting German envoy, Murad Ali Shah said that time has come to resolve water shortage issue of the city and he has a plan to restructure water board by introducing institutional reforms.
He said that the water board has a limited capacity to distribute water in the megalopolis city efficiently and distribute and collect water bills. “I want to make this organization scientifically efficient and the work of reforms would start once the K-IV project is commissioned,” he said and added that he would appreciate if German experts extend their support and cooperation.
German ambassador appreciated the chief minister saying that he had enjoyed his travel on Shahrah-e-Faisal and it has been improved tremendously.
Talking about development in Thar, CM Murad Ali Shah said that road infrastructure from Karachi to Thar on both routes, via Hyderabad and Thatta, has been developed. “Thar gives a beautiful look with vast road network and now its natural beauty has emerged with heavy rains which turned its mounds of sand lush green,” he said and added that the work on coal mining and installation of power plant was going on with full speed. “Oh yes! We have had our maiden landing of lear Jet on the airstrip of Thar airport- it means the airport has become some sort of functional, however work on its other necessary facilities is going,” he said proudly.
The chief minister said that there was lot of investment opportunities in Thar in energy sector and now with the construction of airport air travel has become easy and time saving. “We have also vast investment opportunities in renewable energy for which German investors have shown interest, “If you [German ambassador] take it up with your investor on your level it might mature early,” he said. On this the visiting envoy said that he was also interested to invite German investors and the Government to support Sindh in different sectors, particularly in water and sanitation projects in the city.
Murad Shah presented CM House memento, Sindhi cap, ajrak and Thari Shaal to the visiting guest and invited him to visit Thar to explore the investment opportunities which he accepted.