Karachi, March 06, 2019 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the Sindh government with the assistance from the World Bank has initiated the Karachi Neighborhood Improvement Project (KNIP) to improve public spaces in the city’s selected neighbourhoods and to strengthen the city government’s capacity to provide certain administrative services such as business registration and construction permits.
This he said on Wednesday while talking to media National Museum and Secretariat where educational and cultural zones were being constructed. Under the project underground parking area for parking of 400 vehicles was being developed. When he reached Chairman P and D Mohammad Waseem and Secretary Home Kazi Kabir and project director and other staff also reached on the spot and briefed the chief minister.
Murad Ali Shah said that the Project Loan Agreement was signed on June 15, 2017 for an investment of $ 98.00 million that would be financed through an IDA SFU Credit of $86 million and counterpart funding equivalent to $12 million.
Uplift of Educational Area in Saddar Downtown: The chief minister said that that under the sub-projects in Saddar neighborhood under KNIP, the Educational and cultural zone were being implemented. The sub-project area comprises of rehabilitation of three roads that form a triangle, upgradation of sidewalks, upgradation of infrastructure/burying major utility network in ROW of Dr. Ziauddin Road (from Shaheen Complex to Pakistan Chowk) Din Muhammad Wafai Road (from Arts Council chowk to Pakistan Chowk) and Construction of sub-surface car parking space in ROW and Students Space/Plaza on Shahrah-e-Kamal Ataturk.
The salient features of the project are as follows:
The RI-Development of Culture and Education Area in Saddar Downtown’, was inaugurated on 12 March 2018 by Sindh chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in the presence of World Bank representatives. The total Contract cost of the project is Rs.1,671 million.
The sub-project comprises of public space in the form of pedestrian Students’ Piazza on Shahrah-e-Kamal Ataturk, two level parking facility for 400 vehicles, Rehabilitation of 2.5 km roads, sidewalks on both sides, including upgradation of utilities. It also includes external surface improvement works at Arts Council.
The project Director Nazir Issani briefing the chief minister said that 35 percent works in Parking Facility has been completed. 90 percent of the Piling work on the periphery have been achieved. The South and North Court yard have been completed at Arts Council. The minor works are in progress.
Home Secretary Kazi Kabir who is monitoring execution of the project said that 70 percent utilities network improvement (PTCL, K-Electric, NTC, SSGC) on all three roads have been completed. Seven Pad Mounted Unit (PMU) on three roads have been energized and major overhead wires/network have been buried under ground.
He said that the urban elements (street lights, benches, bollards) on sidewalks along roads are under progress. Mr Kazi said that the completion of the works was scheduled by 31 July, 2019. The Chief Minister inspected the work and directed them to expedite it so that people of the city not only be save from inconvenience but take benefits of its beauty.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019(Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk