CM finalises $80m project to restore Karachi’s old areas

City contributes 15-29% of Pakistan's GDP, says Murad Ali Shah


Our Correspondent October 05, 2016
Roads will be developed in areas of Pakistan Chowk and pedestrian access will be created along the sidewalks of Empress Market under the $80m project, according to additional chief secretary for development Mohammad Waseem. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: Now the old areas of Karachi will be worth visiting and everyone will love to buy a house there.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said this while presiding over a meeting held to finalise the World Bank-assisted $80-million Karachi Liveable Improvement Project at CM House on Wednesday.

The project aims to restore the old areas of the city. Shah said that he was committed to transforming Karachi into a liveable, green and resilient metropolis by focusing on growth, prosperity, sustainability, inclusiveness and service delivery of the city. Additional chief secretary for development Mohammad Waseem and his team, principal secretary Naveed Kamran and finance secretary Hassan Naqvi were present at the meeting, among other officials.

Shah said that Karachi is a major hub of national economy, which contributes 15-29% of gross domestic product (GDP). However, he said, economic growth, particularly of the city, has been very slow during the last two years. "It is quite painful to see Karachi at 134 in the list of Global Liveability Index of 140 countries," he said. "This has happened because [there are] gaps in infrastructure, [lack of] basic services, underdevelopment of large areas, dilapidation of heritage assets and unbelievable decline in green areas."

Shah said that World Bank provided technical assistance for conducting the Karachi City Diagnostic (KCD) research survey. On the basis of KCD reports, the World Bank is now willing to support an actionable project focusing on fast, low-cost and high-impact interventions. He went on to say that these interventions will respond to the needs of the city identified in the KCD.

Briefing the meeting, additional chief secretary Waseem said that under the guidance of the chief minister, Pakistan Chowk to Empress Market and Korangi and Malir districts have been identified for uplift. According to him, roads will be developed in areas of Pakistan Chowk and pedestrian access will be created along the sidewalks of Empress Market.

The parks in the areas will be rehabilitated and furniture such as benches will also be fixed along the roads. The streets will be decorated with streetlights, open cables will be covered and heritage buildings will be rehabilitated.

Waseem said that the roads that will be reconstructed and upgraded are those from Quaidabad to Steel Mills junction, Nawab Siddique Ali Khan Road from Lasbela to Golimar Underpass, the road from Singer to Younis Chowrangi to Hospital Chowrangi, Khokhrapar Road from Saudabad to Nadi and allied roads, Site Avenue to Paracha Chowk to Habib Bank Chowrangi, General Tyre Road from Textile Mill to Globe Textile Mills, Landhi, Bahaduryar Jung Road to District Korangi and from Azeempur to Sharae Altaf, Shah Faisal Zone.

The estimated cost of the project is $80 million, of which the Sindh government is bearing 20% while the remaining expenditures are being borne by the World Bank.

Karachi package

The chief minister also reviewed the progress of the Rs10-billion Karachi Package projects and said that work will start from October, adding that any delay will not be tolerated in this regard.

The chief minister was informed that the initiation work of all 18 schemes is at the final stages. Shah was told that the Rs1.6 billion schemes launched under a special grant to upgrade and reconstruct roads from Clifton to Saddar, including the Red Zone, are in progress.

The chief minister directed the project director to complete the entire work, including footpaths' beautification, within a month.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2016.

COMMENTS (3)

Lotus | 7 years ago | Reply Everyone here has an opinion but look carefully none of you want to take personal charge to beautify your city? Blame the corrupt authorities but you created them then they lined their pockets what did you do? Karachi is a mess because the citizens do not take personal responsibility they let the crazy filth & sewer slide they let the bad roads lady but each neighborhood does not care! Each one of us are responsible so there what are you going to do?
Yousuf | 7 years ago | Reply CM should run for Karachi Mayor next time. Until then please transfer authority and funds to Karachi Mayor elected by karachi people.
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