Mayor lays foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 731m

KARACHI, Nov 10 (APP): Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has laid the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs731 million being undertaken by the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) in North Karachi.

Members of the City Council, President of the North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry Faisal Moiz Khan, other office-bearers and representatives of the industrial community were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that improving basic infrastructure in industrial areas was essential for Karachi’s economic growth and the promotion of industrial activities.

He said it was necessary to ensure that both the city and its industries continued to function smoothly, as the growth of industries would benefit ordinary citizens, generate tax revenue for Pakistan, support the government’s operations and enable the industrial sector to play its role in earning foreign exchange for the country.

He said that the North Karachi Industrial Area played an important role in the city’s economic activities and that improvements in roads, drainage systems and other basic facilities would provide much-needed relief to industrialists and the business community. Better infrastructure in industrial areas would create a favourable business environment, encourage investment and generate new employment opportunities.

He said that the government had stood with industrialists in the past, stood with them today and would continue to extend its cooperation in the future. “If you take one step forward, we will take two. If two steps are not possible, we will take one step, and if even one step is not possible, we will take half a step. What matters is that we must take practical measures to move forward,” he said.

Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said Sindh had considerable potential for generating electricity through wind power, with an extensive wind corridor offering opportunities for electricity generation extending beyond Gwadar. Despite this potential, expensive power plants had been established. He said that a way forward had been provided regarding wind power and that the need of the hour was to utilise available resources to provide affordable energy to industries.

The Mayor said that practical solutions to the problems faced by investors could only be found by sitting together with the business community. Joint efforts were also needed to reduce the cost of doing business.

He said that Karachi’s water requirements should not be addressed solely through reliance on dams, as the possibility of bringing canal water to the city could also be explored.

Addressing representatives of the industrial sector, Mayor Wahab said that work would also be undertaken on international compliance and chemical analysis projects, with a focus on promoting recycling.

He said he wanted to initiate work in the industrial area during the first phase, while industrialists should identify a suitable location for the second phase. The government was ready to extend its cooperation, and any project that benefited the public would receive full support.

He said that practical, locally developed solutions also needed to be explored for biogas projects. Further progress could be made through collaboration with the industrial sector in areas where similar initiatives were already underway.

Mayor Wahab said he also intended to recommend grants for sewage treatment and biogas projects. He directed all relevant consultants and contractors to ensure the earliest possible completion of development works. He said approximately Rs 732 million would be spent on the project and that the amount would subsequently be sought from the government.

He stressed that the construction of roads and drains should be completed at the earliest to provide relief to the public. He said that in the past, complaints had frequently been raised regarding road construction and rehabilitation, but approximately 7,000 roads had now undergone pavement works in the city.

He said that it was also necessary to consider whether the city wanted to return to the governance system of the past and to examine the reasons behind the shortcomings that had emerged under previous arrangements. He said the government’s efforts were focused on providing improved infrastructure and modern municipal facilities across Karachi, particularly in industrial zones.

The Mayor said that the cooperation of industrialists and the business community was vital to Karachi’s development and that all stakeholders needed to work together to resolve the city’s problems.

He said the primary objective was to provide relief to citizens and expressed hope that the coming period would bring progress and prosperity for both Karachi and Pakistan.