CM inspects uplift schemes, orders removal of encroachments

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday directed Inspector General of Police to make necessary arrangements for smooth traffic flow in the city because work on Rs 12 billion Karachi Package’s phase-II has been started on war-footing basis, which is bound to cause inconvenience to the citizens of Karachi.

This he said while talking to the Karachi administration during his visit to the newly launched schemes under Karachi Package phase-II today morning. The chief minister was accompanied by Local Government Minister Jam Khan Shoro and top officials.

The chief minister started his visit from Cantt Railway Station, where all the approaching roads are being constructed at the cost of Rs 240 million.

Later, he went to Garden Road at Ankelsaria Hospital via Fawara Chowk. At Electronic Market in Saddar, the chief minister saw heaps of garbage thrown out on the road by the shopkeepers, where stopped his vehicle and directed Commissioner Karachi to talk to the association of Electronic Market to stop this unhealthy practice, otherwise strict action will be taken against them. “We are working hard day and night to clean the city but the shopkeepers, despite having dustbins of solid waste management at their shops, are throwing their trash on the main road,” he said and added it was unacceptable.

Shah stopped at Anklesraia Hospital where construction of road from Fawara Chowk to Garden via Abdullah Haroon Road and back to Fawara Chowk via Zaibunnisa Market has been kicked off with the cost of Rs 650 million.

PD Karachi Package Niaz Soomro and his Deputy Engineer Khalid Mansoor briefed the chief minister about the work. Shah directed them to work day and night to complete the scheme. “This is most important road and usually remains jammed at peak hours, therefore its construction with best quality must be made before time,” he said.

The chief minister also drove from Garden area via MA Jinnah Road to Tipu Sultan Road where two different schemes are in progress. The schemes are reconstruction of Tipu Sultan Road and Khalid Bin Waleed Intersection at Shaheed-e-Millat Road at the cost of Rs239.993 million and construction of a bridge at Tipu Sultan and Khalid Bin Waleed Road Intersection at Shaheed-e-Millat Road for Rs515.180 million.

It may be noted that while going to Shaheed-e-Millat Road, the chief minister stopped at Khalid Bin Waleed Road when he saw the vehicles of showrooms parked on the footpaths. Expressing his serious displeasure and anguish, Shah directed the Commissioner Karachi to either remove the encroachment from the footpaths or bulldoze the footpaths. “It pedestrians cannot use footpath, then there is no need of such facility,” he said in displeasure.

The chief minister while driving on Shahrah-e-Faisal topped at Drigh Road where a flyover connecting the Drigh Road with Rashid Minhas Road is being reconstructed. The engineer briefed the chief minister about the work in progress. This flyover frequently develop craters due to its faulty design and now it is being reconstructed for Rs80 million.

From Rashid Minhas Road, the chief minister went to Safoora Chowrangi via University Road where construction of the road and drain was in progress. At the Chowrangi, he mixed up among the people and listened to their problems.

Talking to media at the Safoora Chowrangi, the chief minister said that he had given clear instruction to Karachi administration and the police not to harass the people while going to Sea View to celebrate new year night. “I have directed them [police] to remove all the containers placed there to block all the roads and arties leading to Sea View,” he said and added the people of Karachi, particularly the youngsters were responsible enough and they should not create problems for the public and themselves. “I am urging them to enjoy yourself peacefully and respectfully. Carrying weapons, doing one-wheeling practices and creating problems for others would not be tolerated,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said: “The sugarcane price is not increasing because the cane of Punjab is sold in Sindh for Rs 100 per 40 kg. “We have given Rs9.30 additional subsidy on export of sugar so that sugar millers could start crushing, otherwise they were reluctant to start saying that huge quantity of sugar was lying in their go downs,” he said and added “with our efforts, millers have started crushing and now there is the issue of sugarcane price for which we are taking measure to get the growers better price,” he said.

He accused the federal government for creating this crisis. Had they not imposed ban on the export of sugar, the sugar stocks have not been piled up in the go downs. Replying to another question, Shah said that he was trying to complete all the development schemes being carried out in the city.

“I have the realization that almost all major roads of the city are dug up to reconstruct them and this has caused serious hardship to the citizens,” he said and added this hardship would hardly remain for next six to eight months and then these works would be completed.

The chief minister right from Safooran Chowrangi went to Saadi Town and paid surprise visit to North-East Karachi Filtration Plant of 100 MGD. When he reached, there was no security at the gate or at the ponds and even the relevant staff was absent from their duties. The chief minister called MD Water Board Hashim Raza Zaidi and asked him to rush to the plant. He also directed the MD to give him a detailed report about the numerical strength of the staff deputed on the duty in the morning shift. “I don’t want unwilling workers- if they are reluctant to perform duty remove them and kept only efficient and dutiful staff on the plant,” he said.

The chief Minister told the media that K-III was constructed in 2007/8 and those who had constructed it had not developed it filtration system and were supplying untreated water to the citizens. This was the efficiency they had and now they are making toll claims of serving this city, he said. “Now, we are constructing filtration plant, the chief minister said.

The chief minister directed DC East to deploy three police guards at the NEK Plant for security and keep inspecting the staff on duty off and on. The chief minister continuing his visits to uplift works drove from Saadi Town to Sunset Boulevard where he inspected the work started on construction of a Bridge at Intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gizri Boulevard forRs470.509. The work has been started. The chief minister directed the Traffic police to provide proper alternate traffic routes.

The chief minister also inspected under construction Submarine underpass. The chief minister directed the PD Karachi to get its one side open for traffic. “I am happy that you have started the work on other track also but the delay in its completion is causing problems to the people.

On the last leg of his visit to the city, the chief minister went to Seaview where he saw the containers placed at different roads to block entry to the sea view. On his directives the police removed the container.

On the conclusion of his visit, the chief minister had breakfast to the media men and the officers who were accompanied with him in his visit at Boating Basin.

ENDS-PPI