Karachi: Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Monday said that development work has been initiated in the SITE Super Highway Industrial Area with a special grant from the Sindh Government, and all the projects would be completed before December 15.
He expressed these views while speaking to media representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony for various development projects at SITE Super Highway. President SITE Super Highway Association of Industry, Masood Parvez, General Secretary, Ehfaz Sheikh, elected councillors, relevant officers and industrialists were also present on the occasion.
He said that Karachi’s economic development was directly linked with the development of its industrial areas, therefore, providing basic facilities and improving infrastructure in industrial zones was our priority, while development of these areas would promote business activities and create more employment opportunities.
The Mayor Karachi said that the scope of development work would be further expanded in SITE Super Highway and other industrial areas of Karachi so that industrialists could be provided with better infrastructure and basic facilities.
He said that the Sindh Government had provided a special grant of more than Rs 9.25 billion for seven industrial zones of Karachi, and the funds had been transferred to the accounts of all seven industrial areas. He said that Rs 700 million had been transferred by the Sindh Government for SITE Super Highway.
He said that on the request of the industrialists, they had been given the authority to determine the priorities of development works in their respective areas. This, he said, was a unique example in Pakistan where the government had provided funds to industrialists for development projects.
Mayor Karachi said that as citizens, we need to understand that we could resolve the problems of our city. There was no better place than Karachi.
He said that those who had established industries and businesses in Karachi, had not been forced to do so; rather, the city offered significant opportunities for business and investment, and everyone must work together for the betterment of Karachi.
Barrister Murtaza Wahab said that during the 1980s and 1990s, many factories shifted from Karachi to other areas, and this situation needed to be changed. Development in industrial areas would strengthen industries and further improve the city’s economy. He said that special attention was being given to the provision of roads and other basic facilities in Karachi’s industrial areas.
Speaking about water projects, the Mayor said that Pakistan’s first industrial water park of its kind had been established in the SITE area. In the first phase, 350 million gallons of water would be treated.
He said that 28 MGD of water was currently being treated through TP-3, while more projects were also included in the development timeline. Work was also continuing on water and other basic infrastructure projects keeping industrial requirements in view.
The Mayor urged citizens to inform the police emergency helpline 15 whenever they see drug addicts in their surroundings so that the relevant authorities could take action.
Barrister Murtaza said that the Sindh Assembly had passed the resolution for the creation of Pakistan and that Karachi continued to play a fundamental role in the country’s development.
Regarding heavy traffic on the Lyari Expressway, the Mayor said that instead of routing heavy vehicles through the city, available alternative routes should be utilised.
He said that all relevant stakeholders would have to sit together and find a solution regarding the movement of heavy traffic on the Lyari Expressway so that citizens could be provided relief from traffic-related problems.
He said that the development of Karachi was not the responsibility of any particular class or area but was a necessity for the entire city. Improvement of industrial areas, provision of basic facilities and promotion of business activities would strengthen Karachi, and a stronger Karachi would ultimately contribute to a stronger national economy.
