Sindh governor reviews Rs25bn Karachi package

• Rs1.5bn allocated for Karachi’s Fire Brigade Department
• Rs6.7bn announced for roads, three flyovers, and transport

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Muhammad Zuabir on Friday chaired a meeting here to review Rs 25 billion Karachi package announced by the federal government.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Planning Commission had approved eight billion rupees for current financial year and PC-1 of different projects was also prepared. The PC-1 would be sent to the Planning Commission for approval.

Keeping in view the hardships faced by the Fire Brigade of Karachi, he said that Rs 1.5 billion have been allocated for the department for the purchase of fire tenders, fire bowsers and snorkels. He said that Rs 6.7 billion was allocated for road and transport sector of the city.

He also announced three flyovers at Sakhi Hasan, Five Star Chowrangi and Board Office and said that the renovation of Manghopir and Nashtar roads would also be included in the Karachi package. Besides the Karachi package, the projects worth Rs 50 billion were in completion stage in Karachi, he said.

Governor Zubair said that Green Line Bus Rapid Transit, Lyari Expressway and water supply scheme K-IV were the schemes powered by the federal government were about to complete. He said that all stakeholders of the city have been taken on board and different projects were included in the package on the identification of different political and religious parties.

“Karachi is the backbone of Pakistan where people of whole country move to get employment. After the restoration of peace and good law and order situation, the international investors are taking interest to promote economic activities of the metropolis. Therefore, the uplift projects were need of the hour,” he concluded.

CM POINTS OUT ‘HURDLE’: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the Ministry of Railways was creating hurdles in revival of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) project.

In a meeting to discuss preparation for coming meeting on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), he was told that the railways authorities were reluctant to hand over the Karachi Urban Transport Company (KUTC) to the provincial government.

Moreover, they were also reluctant to hand over portion of the railway track right from the City Station to the Drigh Road station for the KCR. Murad said that the land of the railways in Sindh belongs to the provincial government and it would be used for the benefit of people in general and for Karachiites in particular.

The chief minister asked Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon to talk to the railway authorities, adding he would also talk to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to get the issue settled.