KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to ensure availability of clean and sufficient water for Karachi as early as possible by adopting all the technically feasible and economically viable methods.
The prime minister said this while chairing a meeting to review the progress of ongoing development projects under Karachi Transformation Plan on Tuesday.
Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Minister for Railways Azam Swati, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Zaidi, Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal and senior government officials attended the meeting.
The prime minister also directed all other officials to ensure completion of all these projects within the time lines, committed by them, as he is keen to inaugurate them as soon as possible for the welfare and benefit of the Karachiites.
The prime minister said the early completion of the federal government’s projects in Karachi and early launch of newly announced works, are among government’s key priorities.
Earlier, the prime minister was briefed on different ongoing projects in Karachi by different officers.
The prime minister was informed that all the remaining civil works will be completed by June 2022. The prime minister was also briefed on the latest update of the Green Line and Orange Line BRT projects. The Green Line operations will commence by October this year, as 80 buses will be arriving at Karachi port from China by mid-September 2021. Similarly, on the request of the Sindh government, Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (SIDCL) is also procuring 20 buses for Orange Line, which are expected to reach Karachi by December 2021.
The chairman WAPDA briefed the PM on the K-IV project for supply of water to Karachi. He informed that the city is currently drawing 1,200 cusecs (665 MGD) including 100 MGD from Hub Dam. The city is facing a severe shortage of water. In order to mitigate the miseries of the denizens of Karachi, K-IV project was executed by the government of Sindh and co-financed by Sindh and federal governments. However, it remained in limbo for over a decade. Now, the federal government (WAPDA) is executing the project.
The prime minister was informed that the joint cross-sectional survey is complete up to 85 kilometres and unified consultants and international staff from ILF have been mobilised. The final design is likely to be completed by October 2021. Civil works will commence by February, 2022. The project is likely to be completed by October, 2023.
The prime minister was then briefed about the railway projects viz Freight Corridor from Keamari to Pipri Marshalling Yard and Modern Karachi Circular Railway (KCR). The Freight Corridor project envisages construction/ dualisation of a 50-km dedicated freight corridor from Karachi Port to Pipri and includes the development of an Inland Container Depot/ Marshalling Yard at Pipri.
The project is expected to capture 40% of the cargo meant to be transported to the upcountry. The feasibility study of the project has been submitted by the transaction advisor. The project is expected to be floated in the market in October 2021.
The KCR project envisages construction of a 43-km long world-class affordable mass transit system, using environmentally friendly electric trains. The draft feasibility study has been submitted. Once the transaction structure and bidding documents are approved by Public Private Partnership (P3) Authority (P3A), the project is expected to be floated in the market by November 2021.
Separately, Prime Minister Imran said that Pakistan has been progressing in adoption of modern technologies in different fields.
The prime minister said this while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Ship Lift and Transfer System at the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) after arriving in the city on a day-long visit. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal, parliamentarians and officials of Pakistan Navy were present on the occasion.
The prime minister said that Pakistan has gradually been heading towards prosperity as the government has steered the economy to the right direction with effective and durable policies. The prime minister said that these policies are leading to increasing remittances. He said that steps are also being taken to curb money-laundering.
The prime minister said that technological advancement was not pursued in the past, adding, “We failed to exploit our real potential in every field.”
“Since I grew up side-by-side with Pakistan, let me say on this occasion that we [country] were not able to progress and reach our potential as we were supposed to,” said the PM. The prime minister said instead of standing on their own feet and using their genius, Pakistanis lost their way.
“We became an import-led economy and Pakistan started relying on foreign aid,” regretted the PM. “We didn’t recognise our power. Whenever someone starts to depend on crutches, his physique deteriorates,” he added.
The prime minister used this example to state that God has made nations in a similar way, adding when they learn to struggle and rise above hurdles, they prevail in the end. He said the Almighty Allah tells Muslims to learn from the example of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), adding that whichever states adopt the principles of the Riyasat-e-Madinah, it would always rise above its problems.
Towards the end of his speech, the premier expressed happiness that Pakistan is finally on the path to achieve prosperity, paying tribute to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Amjad Niazi for taking the initiative to launch the Ship Lift and Transfer system.
He termed the installation of the ship lift system as an effective use of technology to save revenue and earn foreign exchange by lending services. He paid tribute to the Pakistan Navy for the launch of the ship lift and transfer system, which he said would prove fruitful in generating economic activity.
The shiplift will work as a large elevator platform to raise the ship out of water for dry-docking ashore and lowering it back into water after completion of work. The ship transfer system with its electro-hydraulic trolleys has been designed to transfer ships from shiplift to dry berths on land.
