CM Sindh Finalizes $80mln Karachi Livable Improvement Project

KARACHI (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 05th Oct, 2016 ) : Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Wednesday said that he was committed to transform Karachi into livable, green, resilient metropolis city by focusing the growth of the city, prosperity, sustainability, inclusiveness and service delivery.

"Now the old area of the Karachi would be worth visiting and every one would love to buy a house there," he said. This he said while presiding over a meeting here at CM House, said a statement.

The was organised to finalise a World Bank-assisted $ 82 million Karachi Livable Improvement Project to restore old areas of the city. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Mohammad Waseem and his team, Principal Secretary Naveed Kamran, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi and others.

He said that Karachi is a major hub of national economy which contributes 15 to 29 percent of GDP. But its economic growth particularly on the city core has been notice very slow during the last two years.

"It quite painful to see Karachi at 134 in the list of Global Livability Index of 140 countries," he said and added "this has been happened because of gaps in infrastructure, basic services, and the large areas within city remain are undeveloped, the heritage assets are dilapidated and unbelievable declining in green areas." Syed Murad Ali Shah said that World Bank provided technical assistance for conducting Karachi City Diagnostic (KCD).

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 saying these interventions would respond to the needs of the city identified during KCD.

Additional Chief Secretary (Development) Mohammad Waseem briefing the meeting said that under the guidance of the CM Sindh, Pakistan Chowk to Empress Market and Korangi Malir Districts have been identified.

He said in the areas of Pakistan Chowk, Empress Market sidewalks to be improved to provide pedestrian access, including for disabled. The parks in the area would be rehabilitated and furniture like benches would also be fixed along the roads.

The streets would be decorated with streets lights, open cables to be covered and heritage building would be rehabilitated. Talking about Korangi- Malir area rehablitation, M. Waseem said that the roads from Quaidabad to Steel Mills junction, Nawab Siddique Ali Khan road from Lasbella to underpass, road from Singer to Younis Chowarngi to hospital Chowarngi, Khokhrapar road from Saudabad to Nadi and allied roads, different roadds in Korangi, Site Avenue to Paracha Chowk to Habib Bank Chowarngi, General Tyre road from textile mill to Globbe textile mills Landhi, Bahaduryar Jung road to district Korangi and from Azeempur to Shahrah-i-Altaf, Shah Faisal Zone would be reconstructed and upgraded.

It may be noted that the estimated cost of the project is $ 80 million of which Sindh government is bearing 20 percent while 80 percent expenditures are being provided by the World Bank.