No lockdown in Karachi, celebrate the new year responsibly: CM

Following years of celebrating New Year’s Eve among blocked roads and cordoned off beaches, citizens of Karachi were afforded rare respite while welcoming 2018 as all major thoroughfares of the city, including those leading to and from Sea View, remained open on the orders of the provincial government.

The announcement confirming removal of barricades and opening of roads was made by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Sunday as he conducted an inspection tour of the metropolis early in the morning.

Talking to media personnel at one of his stops on the tour, Safoora Chowrangi, the chief minister said he had issued instructions to the city administration and police to facilitate, instead of harassing, citizens who would be heading to Sea View and Clifton beaches to celebrate the arrival of the new year. “I have directed them [the police] to remove all the containers placed to block off roads leading to SeaView. We are confident that the people of Karachi, particularly our youngsters, are responsible enough to not create problems for the public or themselves. I urge everyone to celebrate peacefully, respectfully and responsibly,” said Shah.

“Everyone should remember, however, that there will be no tolerance for carrying and using weapons, one-wheeling, racing and activities that create problems for others,” he warned.

Earlier on Saturday night, Sindh Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal had also hinted at the removal of barricades as he visited different areas to review security measures for New Year’s Eve. He told reporters that citizens had complained about the roadblocks and said they would be removed on New Year’s Eve.

The home minister, however, had also asserted that police would put into effect Section 144 to take action against those indulging in aerial firing or one-wheeling, as well as those riding motorcycles without silencers.

CM reviews projects

During a city-wide visit to ongoing development schemes, Murad directed the Sindh Inspector General of Police to make necessary arrangements for smooth flow of traffic as work on Rs12 billion worth Karachi Package Phase-II has commenced and is bound to cause inconvenience to commuters.

On his visit, the CM was accompanied by Minister for Local Government Jam Khan Shoro and all other concerned senior officers of in-charge of the Karachi Package and district administration officials of the city.

The chief minister started his visit from the Cantt Railway Station to which all leading roads are being constructed at a cost of Rs240 million.

Moving on the Garden road at Anklesaria Hospital via the Fawara Chowk, the chief minister stopped at the Electronic Market in Saddar, and ordered the city commissioner to direct the market’s shopkeepers’ association to ensure no shopkeepers dump trash and filth out on the road, or a strict action will be taken.

“We are working hard day and night to clean up the city but the shopkeepers despite being provided with dustbins by the Solid Waste Management Board keep throwing trash on the main road,” he said, adding that the practice is unacceptable.

He then went on to review the Rs650million worth construction project of a road near Anklesaria Hospital. The road leads from the Fawara Chowk to Garden via the Abdullah Haroon Road and back to the Fawara Chowk through the Zaibunnisa Market.

The project director of the Karachi Package, Niaz Soomro, and his deputy, Engineer Khalid Mansoor, briefed Murad about the ongoing work. The officers were directed to work day and night and expedite the construction of the project.

“This is the most important road and usually remains jammed during peak traffic hours, therefore, it should be ensured that it is a quality road and is constructed before time,” said Murad.

Murad then visited the Tipu Sultan Road’s two developmental schemes, reconstruction of the Tipu Sultan and the Khalid Bin Waleed Intersection at Shaheed-e-Millat Road for Rs239.993 million and the construction of a bridge at the intersection worth Rs515.180 million.

En route the Shaheed-e-Millat Road, the CM stopped at the showrooms on Khalid Bin Waleed Road on seeing vehicles parked on the footpaths despite strict orders to showroom owners to clear off the pavements.

Expressing serious displeasure, Murad directed the city commissioner to either have the encroachments removed from the footpaths or bulldoze the pavements altogether. “If the pedestrians cannot use the footpath then there is no need of such a facility,” he stated in anger.

The next stopover the chief minister made was at the Drigh Road flyover, connecting the Drigh Road to the Rashid Minhas Road. He was briefed by the concerned engineer about the reconstruction work of the flyover being in progress.

This fly over frequently develops craters due to its faulty design and is now being reconstructed at a cost Rs80 million.

Murad then visited the Safoora Chowrangi via the University Road where the construction of a road and a sewerage drain is in progress. At the roundabout, he spoke with the area’s people and heard their problems.

Visit to filter plant

The chief minister paid a surprise visit to the 100mge North-East Karachi Filtration Plant being constructed in Saadi Town. Irked by zero security at the gate or at the ponds as well as the absence of all concerned staff from their duties, the CM rang up the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board’s Managing Director, Hashim Raza Zaidi, and directed him to rush to

the plant.

He further asked the MD to handover to him a detailed report regarding the numerical strength of the staff deputed on duty in the morning shift.

“I don’t want unwilling workers - if they are reluctant to perform their duties you may as well remove them and keep only efficient and dutiful staff on the plant,” he said.

Murad informed the media that the K-III plant was constructed in 2007/8 and those who constructed it had not developed its filtration system and were supplying untreated water to the citizens.

“This was the level of their efficiency and now they are making tall claims of serving this city,” he said, adding that now it is the Sindh government that is constructing a filtration plant.

He directed the district commissioner East to deploy three police guards at the plant and keep inspecting the staff on duty from time to time.

Continuing on with his visit, Murad then paid a visit to the under construction flyover at the Sunset and Gizri boulevards intersection, at a cost of Rs470,509.

The chief minister also inspected the under construction Submarine Chowk underpass, where he directed the PD Karachi Package to have one side of the underpass opened for traffic. “I am happy that you have begun the work on the other track but the delay in its completion is causing problems to the people.”

The CM’s last visit was at Sea View where he issued directed to all police officers to do away with the containers placed at different roads to block access to the Clifton beach.