KMC could play important role for provision of modern civic facilities: Zubair

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) could play an important role in the provision of the best and modern civic facilities to the residents of Karachi in accordance with international standards, said Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair on Thursday.

In a meeting with Mayor Wasim Akhtar at the Governor House, Zubair said all the concerned stakeholders were of the consensus viewpoint that all out efforts should be made to resolve the major civic issues of Karachi so that the city could gain salience on the world economic map.

He added that the citizens’ confidence in the government’s work has increased manifold as the menacing crimes of extortion, terrorism and kidnapping for ransom had reduced. According to the governor, the KMC and its subsidiary agencies could evolve a system of composite liaison with the masses so that strict surveillance of edible and food items being supplied to markets could be done to ensure people’s health and safety.

Progress and development

Zubair further said that Karachiites would get relief soon as a number of development projects would be completed before the upcoming elections. The Centre has always supported progress and development of Karachi on a preferential basis keeping in view the city’s importance as the economic backbone of the country, he said.

According to the governor, the federal government had been spending a total sum of Rs75 billion on the construction and completion of big development projects in Karachi to provide the maximum modern civic facilities to its residents.

Giving some examples of these projects, Zubair said the Lyari Expressway project had been completed while the completion of Phase-I of K-IV Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme would also provide much needed relief to the people of the city.

“The Centre would continue providing its support to build and develop the city on most modern lines,” he said. Zubair further told Mayor Akhtar that Karachi had turned out to be an ideal destination for prospective investors from within and outside the country after the restoration of law and order.

The mayor said that the completion of the Lyari Expressway had helped in easing out the problems of traffic congestion on major roads in the city. Moreover, Mayor Akhtar expressed hope that the special development package announced by the federal government for Karachi would help a lot in resolving the persisting civic and municipal issues. He added that the people of Karachi gave value to the development projects initiated in the city and considered them gifts from the federal government.

Iftar reception

Meanwhile, the Sindh governor also hosted an Iftar reception at the Governor House to pay homage to renowned hockey goalkeeper and Olympian Mansoor Ahmed who recently passed away. The deceased player’s family and other prominent people associated with hockey attended the reception. Zubair eulogised the services of the late Olympian for the national game, saying Pakistan had won several distinctions, medals, and championships owing to excellent sporting skills shown by Mansoor Ahmed, especially in the 1990s.