By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Prof Dr Noman Ahmed, Founder Chairman, Department of
Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology,
Karachi, touched upon the various segments during his comprehensive lecture presentation
on the planning issues of Karachi at the Auditorium of the Institution of
Engineers Pakistan (IEP), Karachi Centre, on May 25.
The nearly one-hour lecture, which was lively as well as
informative, was followed by an inter-active session in which Prof Dr Noman
Ahmed was asked to explain the finer points relating to the issues of Karachi.
His lecture was punctuated with relevant maps and a few
sensational images, like the ones shot in the slum areas, which kept the
interest of the audience alive throughout the presentation and the extended
question-answer session reflected the involvement of the IEP members until the
very end.
Prof Dr Noman Ahmed, with the help of charts, showed how the
city had expanded in all directions during the last couple of centuries in
particular. He described Karachi as a relatively young city in comparison to
the cities like Lahore and Multan, having very old history.
He shared his view on the various development plans prepared
for the city over the years. He expressed his concern over the transport
problems in particular, hoping that it will be resolved in the near future.
Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam, having headed the city government’s
Karachi Mass Transit Cell, who was present in the audience, also took some
questions relating to the transportation problems in the city.
Engr Farhat Adil, President, IEP, Karachi Centre, in his brief
remarks, commended Prof Dr Noman Ahmed for coming up with a very impressive
presentation on the subject of planning in Karachi.
