Imran Khan rolls out Rs1.1t plan to fix Karachi issues

Karachi - The new package will address municipal and infrastructure problems faced by country's financial hub

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday announced a historic Rs1.1 trillion package under the Karachi Transformation Plan to resolve major issues of the port city like provision of drinking water, cleaning of drains and sewage and solid waste disposal, within three years.

Unveiling the details of the plan in a media talk after chairing a meeting, the prime minister said both the federal and provincial governments would contribute to the package.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, federal and provincial ministers and a number of legislators were also present.

For a better coordination and implementation of the plan, a Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee (PCIC) has been set up with all stakeholders on board to promptly resolve the issues of the megacity, the prime minister added.

Under the short, medium and long terms plans, drains would be completely cleaned, whereas the provincial government had taken the responsibility to rehabilitate people displaced from their illegal encroachments, he added.

He said all stakeholders will be involved in the implementation of the plan. "The army will play a big role," he added, noting that the army helps the civilian administration whenever there are floods or a calamity.

The first problem the plan will address is of water supply and the Centre and the Sindh government will each work on a part of the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme, also called K-IV.

He said the second problem is of encroachments on nullahs (drains) about which the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has already started work.

The third and fourth issues that the plan will focus on are city's sewerage system and solid waste disposal. "We will make a proper system," Khan said.

"There is also transport problem. We will also complete the KCR (Karachi Circular Railway) in this package. Then roads (will be built for) BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) and other lines. We have decided to completely solve the issue of transportation and roads," he added.

• Pakistan