TRANSPORT MASTER PLAN: JICA TEAM MEMBERS CALLS ON ADMINISTRATOR KARACHI

Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman has said that city government has initiated a study to make the modern transport facilities available in Karachi by 2030 under the cooperation and financial support of Rs370million from JICA for which Japan International Cooperation Agency has also formed a 24 member team of experts out of which 7 members have already started conducting study. The members of study team called on Administrator Karachi Fazlur Rehman at his office in Civic Center and talked about the study program.

Administrator Karachi on this occasion said that city government will provide all possible help in the study and implementation of Urban Transport Master Plan 2030 for Karachi. He said that considering the ever increasing population in Karachi and the international status of city it was mandatory to provide more facilities to citizens by conducting advance study in all sectors of civic life so that the problems could be solved under a thorough planning and implementation.

Administrator Karachi said that necessary measures will be taken regarding the requirements, problems and their solution under this study and it would make it easy for government to solve the transport problems of city by providing better public transport facility to citizens, adding that the Karachi Mass Transit Cell, Transport & Communication and E&IP Department will have to play active role in the study so as to make it possible for JICA to complete it during two year’s period and the same could be implemented at the earliest.

Administrator Karachi said that Mass Transit Cell of City Government has already provided the Karachi Strategic Plan 2020 to JICA; however it was further extending the plan up to 2030 by conducting the study. He said that he will try that the notifications of technical and joint steering committees of Government of Sindh could be issued on time which would help JICA to conduct its study on a timely basis and complete it as per schedule.

In a briefing on this occasion, the Administrator was informed that local experts including Arif Hasan, Nauman Ahmed of NED University, Syed Shabbar Ali and Farhan Anwer of “Shehri” have been coordinated for KUTMP 2030 after which the amended plan has been handed over to JICA. The project would give a comprehensive transport master plan to city. Japan International Cooperation Agency has allocated the financial support of Rs356million while the Sindh Government and City Government Karachi have also contributed with Rs14.7million for the study. The PC-II of the project has also been approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) on 18th March and a total of 24 members were appointed for the study out of which 7 members have already reached Pakistan and the other one would also visit the country. The study team would submit one or two feasible plans and also prepare its feasibility. The briefing was given by Director General KMTC Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam. Administrator Karachi and the team members of JICA appreciated the work of Karachi Mass Transit Cell in the preparation of transport project for Karachi.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WILL COMPLETE ON SCHEDULED TIME. DR ISHRAT UL EBAD

Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan has said that development work on projects of city was going on as usual and they will be completed on scheduled time. Administrator Karachi is not being changed. Utility services offices are being established beneath the flyovers to provide timely and immediate help and services to citizens in case of any emergency or causality. Government has curtailed Development projects in the country due to present economic condition but nothing such has happened in Karachi. Local government election will be held after amendment in the local government rules with the consent of allied parties.

He expressed these views while talking to media representatives after inspecting the deelopment works of flyover being constructed near Lucky Star at Sharae Faisal on the night intervening Thursday and Friday.

EDO Works and Services Rasheed Mughal, EDO Municipal Services Masood Alam and other officers of city government accompanied him on this occasion.

Governor of Sindh said that though curtailment has been made in the development schemes due to financial condition of the country but the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan has directed to complete the ongoing development projects of Karachi on time. He said that the government would despite of financial constraints complete development projects within the stipulated time while it would also pay the dues simultaneously.

The Governor said that he has decided to visit the development projects without prior intimation and inspect the pace of work so that the project condition could be evaluated correctly.

He said that the development process will carry on and the government will initiate work on more projects so that the aim to solve the problems of citizens could be fulfilled and the citizens get the benefit of development works.

Replying a query Governor of Sindh said that change of Administrator Karachi was not under consideration. Regarding ongoing development projects of Corridor-IV he said that the flyover between Lucky Star and jinnah Hospital will be available for vehicular traffic within next 25 days while the flyovers at PAF Chapter Mehmoodabad and other projects will also be completed as soon as possible.

He said that the experts from both big ally parties of Sindh were presently considering improvement and amendment in the local government laws. There is not disagreement between both parties and only the suggestions are being considered. Local government elections will be held after amendment in the laws.

Governor said that Karachi did not have enough electricity however the problem was being solved with better management so that the citizens of Karachi could be saved from more problems due to shortage of electricity.

Drunk Administrator Karachi (Lala Fazul ur rehman)

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Is the mystery girl Dr Aafia’s daughter? Dr Fauzia Siddiqui doubts girl is her niece

By Faraz Khan

A 12-year-old girl was abandoned outside the residence of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sister on Sunday, leading to speculations that the girl might be Aafia’s daughter who went missing seven years ago.

However, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, Aafia’s sister doubted that the girl was actually Aafia’s daughter and called the incident highly suspicious.

Investigators probing Aafia’s case were left bewildered after people arrived at Fauzia’s residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal and claimed that the girl was Aafia’s missing daughter.

“She is not Maryam and I am very angry with the people who are playing with my family’s emotions,” Fauzia said.

“I don’t know who these people are. Scores of people have tried to enter my residence, saying that Maryam has returned home,” she added.

She said she immediately contacted Interior Minister Rehman Malik and informed him of the situation.

“The minister told me to leave this as our positive dialogue was in progress,” she added.

She said after she informed the Interior Ministry in Islamabad, investigators arrived at her place.

“I provided them with Maryam’s passport for matching the fingerprints and photograph with the assistance of NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority). However, the findings of the investigators were inconclusive,” she added.

Superintendent of Police Niaz Khoso said it would be difficult for the family to identify the girl after seven years. Therefore, it was necessary to avail the facility of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing.(DT Report)

FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES APPRECIATE STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEM

Representatives of Nepal and Bangladesh have appreciated the achievements of city district government in Karachi for revamping of development infrastructure in the city which they called a role model for their country’s local governments.

               

The expressed these views during a visit to the city government’s Works & Services Department along with Mr. Perveen Rehman of Orangi Pilot Project & Research Institute on Thursday. EDO Works & Services Rasheed Mughal gave a detailed briefing on this occasion whereby the participants were apprised of the methodology adopted by city government Karachi for cost effective storm water drainage network and sewage system across the city.

The participants were also briefed by representative of M/s. Techno Consultant about the S-III project of KWSB. The participants shared their views about the development and channelization of storm water drainage system and sewage network in Nepal and Bangladesh.

First woman Pro Vice Chancellor of KU named

Prof. Dr. Shahana Urooj Kazmi, hitherto the Dean of the Faculty of Science, has been appointed as the institution’s first woman Pro Vice-Chancellor. She assumed the charge of her new assignment on Wednesday, a Karachi University said.The Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan, who is also the Chancellor of the public sector universities in the province, appointed Prof. Dr. Shahana Urooj Kazmi as the Pro Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University for the main campus for a period of two years.She had recently served as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.