CM orders creation of special security force for officials

Karachi

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has ordered the creation of a dedicated force for the security of the long delayed K-IV Greater Karachi water supply project so that it could be completed within 27 months. “This is the most important project and I would not tolerate any delay and snags in its way.”

This he said while presiding over a meeting on the K-IV bulk project at the CM House on Saturday. 

The meeting was attended by ministers Syed Murad Ali Shah and Jam Khan Shoro, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Additional Chief Secretary Aijaz Ali Khan, Principal Secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo, Finance Secretary Sohail Rajput, Local Government Secretary Noor Mohammad Leghari, Karachi Commissioner Asif Haider Shah, KWSB Managing-Director Misbahuddin Farid and other officers concerned.

The chief minister was told that some people were creating problems with the construction of the project, causing unnecessary delays and harassment for workers. 

At this, Shah directed the chief secretary to coordinate with the water board and provide KWSB officials with a security force. 

“I would dedicate a special force to the project under a DSP,” he said and also directed the commissioner to talk to the Malir and Thatta SSPs to look after the security of the project.

The meeting heard that 5,117 acres of government land was required in Thatta for K-IV for which the commissioner said that with the approval of the chief minister he had provided the required land for the project.

In Karachi 8,225 acres were required to lay the lines and for other necessary provisions for the project.

Commissioner Asif Haider Shah said that out of 8,255 acres, only 6,218 acres were available and the remaining land belonged to private people. 

At this, the chief minister directed the chief secretary to work on the acquisition of private land on a personal basis.

The total cost of the K-IV project is Rs25.5 billion and the project is being launched to provide 650MGD of water to Karachi in three phases. 

In the first phase, 260 million gallons daily would be provided from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi, in the second phase another 260MGD and in the third and final phase a 130MGD water scheme would be launched in the year 2020.

The meeting was told that soil testing and environmental impact assessment studies of the project had been completed. 

The water board has already awarded a contract for one work of the project and is going to invite national and international tenders for the remaining works within the next two months. 

The chief minister directed the MD of the water board to complete the first phase of the K-IV project within 27 months.

“I would not tolerate delays any more. Whatever process is to be done must be completed within three months and I would personally visit the work on the ground,” he said.