Center, Sindh form joint committee to coordinate on Karachi’s development

KARACHI: The Federal and Sindh governments have decided to set up a six-member committee to jointly to ensure early completion of the long-standing development projects of the metropolis.

While addressing a press conference Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar informed that both sides met for the third time today where they reached at a consensus to work together in six priority areas,  including roads infrastructure, transport, water, sewerage system, solid waste disposal and clearance of encroachments.

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and Asad Umar headed their respective delegations in the meeting. While the Federal Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Provincial Secretary Planning and Development Sindh led their respective groups in the meeting.

Asad Umar said in all the above-mentioned areas either the projects were already designed or new projects were needed to be initiated for the betterment of the people of Karachi.

The minister further said it was decided in the meeting that all bottlenecks of the long-standing projects, including KCR, K4, and S3 would be removed through mutual consultation.

He said that there was no convener of the committee as both sides would work on the basis of mutual understandings.

Asad Umar said, “We have targeted that within two weeks, the projects’ list will be shortlisted and it would be decided which projects are to be led by the provincial government and which projects are the responsibility of the center.

He added that the financial and legislative matters of the projects would also be finalized within the given period. The committee would start its work from tomorrow and the next meeting would be held in Karachi on Saturday, he informed.

The minister said Karachi was the most revenue generation city, adding that the federal government wanted the city to reach its maximum potential.

He said PM  Imran Khan had his personal connection with the people of the metropolis who elected him in the general elections.

Besides, he said since 19 out of 21 seats of Karachi city belonged to PTI and MQM which is a coalition partner of the PTI, therefore it was also political responsibility of the federal government to work for the development of Karachi.

Asad Umar also made it clear that PTI and Pakistan People’s Party had intense political differences but for the sake of Karachi residents, they joined hands to work for the city.

He also clarified that the PTI’ move was only for the betterment of people of Karachi and it must not be connected with the PTI government’s accountability strategy.