KARACHI, Aug 13 (APP): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Tuesday, called on the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the city’s 25 towns to expedite development projects and maintain cleanliness throughout the metropolis.
The CM, while presiding over a meeting, emphasized the importance of leveraging elected local bodies for effective service delivery and stated that elected local bodies including union councils, towns, and the KMC were in place and it was their responsibility to work within their domains to benefit the people and the city.
The meeting, according to a statement issued here, was attended by Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Nasir Shah, Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani, Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, and other senior officials.
CM Shah instructed the Local Government department to initiate development works across the 25 towns of Karachi noting that Rs10,430 million has been allocated for these projects under the Competitive and Liveable City of Karachi (CLICK) project.
The chief minister stressed the importance of maintaining streets, roads, and public spaces and urged the towns to utilize Solid Waste Management services effectively. He also highlighted the need to repair or install streetlights across the city’s towns, ensuring that all public spaces are well-lit and safe.
“I want the streets and roads to be kept in good condition, with parks and public places well-developed, and streetlights functioning. It is essential for the well-being and safety of Karachi’s residents,” CM Shah directed.
Emphasizing the significance of increasing local bodies’ resources for development of the city, the CM urged the Planning and Development and Local Government departments to expedite the property tax survey.
The LG minister Saeed Ghani briefed the meeting that technical evaluation of bids received for ongoing Geographic Information System (GIS) based door to door property tax survey has been completed and the same was shared with the World Bank for review.
“Once approved, financial bids are expected to be opened by the end of this month, with the project likely to be awarded by the second week of September,” he added.
P & D Minister Nasir Shah further elaborated that the GIS-based Management Information System (MIS), along with a mobile application for the Urban Immovable Property Tax (UIPT) survey, was under an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) process in line with World Bank procurement regulations. He said that the project would commence as soon as the World Bank gives its nod.
Murad Shah directed Mayor Karachi to accelerate the formalities for six key development projects that have already received approval. The projects included Rehabilitation of Shadab Football Ground in Block-11 of FB Area; Development of a Park and IT Centre in Shadman Town; Rehabilitation of Baldia Stadium; Construction of Memon Goth Road; Construction of multi-purpose community centers in various union councils; and Development of a community center in Malir.
Mayor Wahab assured the CM that two of the community center projects have been approved while land acquisition issues for the remaining ones being resolved.