CM Sindh directs completion of ongoing schemes under Karachi Package

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday presided over a meeting to review progress of on-going development schemes launched under Karachi Package.

The meeting decided to hand over one snorkel and three fire tenders to Karachi administration and seven other fire tenders to the administration of divisional headquarters of the province.

The chief minister said that several fire incidents have occurred in different factories and shopping centers in the city, and directed Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani to inquire and report him.

He also said that a snorkel and ten fire tenders have been purchased for Rs389 million. The snorkel procured for Karachi has a length of 104-meters at a cost of Rs199 million, while the fire tenders have been purchased for Rs19 million each.

“I want to hand over one snorkel and three fire tenders to Karachi, six fire tenders to divisional headquarters and one fire tender to Qasimabad, Hyderabad,” he said.

Road schemes reviewed

CM Sindh said that at the end of his previous tenure four important schemes such as Tipu Sultan Road, Tipu Sultan flyover, Sunset Boulevard-Gizri flyover and Cantt Station roads were in progress.

The chief minister was informed that the schemes have been completed with minor touch up are left, and directed to get necessary arrangements for their inauguration this week.

Karachi Package Project Director Niaz Soomro briefed CM Sindh on the slow pace of work on the construction of about-turn at Natha Khan bridge costing Rs70 million. CM Sindh directed his principle secretary to look into land acquisition issues so that it could be completed within next two months.

CM SIindh was also told that 70 percent work on Drigh Road Underpass along Shahrah-e-Faisal with restoration of right turn bridge has been completed. The scheme costs Rs1.6 billion.

Furthermore, the work on underpass at Submarine roundabout costing Rs2.2 billion has been completed, but CM Sindh directed to finish the beautification and opening of connecting roads at the earliest.

He further said that renovation of Karachi Zoo is going on at a snail pace and directed the project director to expedite work on the project.

It was also pointed out that widening of the road from National Stadium to Rashid Minhas Road costing Rs379.8 million has been completed by 75 percent. The construction of road from Tank roundabout to Super Highway worth Rs574 million has been done by 85 percent.

Furthermore, The construction of the storm water drain from Star Gate to Chakora Nalla on Shahrah-e-Faisal worth Rs200 million is still at initial stage. CM Sindh directed LG Minister to personally monitor the completion of on-going schemes.

“I want them to be completed at the earliest so that we could start new schemes. We still have to do a lot,” he said, adding that Karachi is a beautiful city and they have to make it among the best livable cities of the world.