Karachi's Development News And Updates

[A.Rafay]

Governor highlights need for Karachi Mass Transit system
KARACHI: Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan, has said that in the wake of growing population in the metropolis, the implementation on the Karachi Mass Transit System has become essential.

He stated this during a visit to various parts of the city on Thursday to review various under-construction projects in the city.

Dr. Ishrat also laid the foundation stone of a flyover at Tin Hati area.

He was of the view that construction of flyovers and overhead bridges as well as roads etc would help ease the flow of traffic in the metropolis.

The Governor visited Banaras Chowk, KDA Chowrangi, Nagan Chowrangi, Aisha Manzil, Water Pump, Sohrab Goth and Rashid Minhas Road.

The people cheered on seeing the Governor in their midst and presented bouquets.

On the occasion, Dr. Ishrat asked about the welfare of the people.

The Governor later told media persons that the government is endeavouring for the provision of as much facilities to the people as possible.

He said that 80 percent of the work on flyover bridge at Banaras Chowk has been completed and that the project would fulfil longstanding demand of the people of the area.

Dr. Ishrat also vehemently condemned the attack on Malala Yousufzai and said that this has saddened the entire nation.

 

[A.Rafay]

PBSA gets possession of plot of land for Sindh Snooker Academy
KARACHI - Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) has officially been handed over the possession of the plot of land sanctioned by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation for the construction of Sindh Snooker Academy.
About a month back the KMC and PBSA signed an MoU under which the KMC allotted the snooker body a plot of land on its Kashmir Road sports complex for Sindh Snooker Academy.
The President of the PBSA Alamgir Shaikh informed the PBSA board that met here that the Association had received the relevant documents pertaining to plot for the Sindh Snooker Academy.
Those documents included original signed/stamped MoU from the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation. Possession letter duly signed/stamped by KMC handed over to PBSA. The board appreciated the efforts of the President Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association for acquiring the above plot which in fact was a vital landmark for the Association in promoting the game of snooker in Pakistan.
The board also thanked the Governor of Sindh, Administrator KMC and the Director Sports, Culture and Recreation of the K.M.C for allocating the land and furthermore the Minister for Sports – Sindh, Dr. Syed Muhammad Ali Shah, Mr. Ahmed Chinnoy who were instrumental in helping the PBSA to acquire the said plot.
Sindh Sports minister Dr MA Shah has sanctioned Rs. 500,000 and a trading company the sponsor of Langnese national snooker championship has contributed Rs. 100,000 towards the construction funds.
The meeting was presided by the President and Chairman-PBSA and Executive Committee members were also present: The board also approved the PBSA ranking chart after the conclusion of Langnese national ranking championship which was the last national event for the current year of the PBSA.
The new proposed Central Contract and Ranking System – format of play for the year 2013 was approved by the Board. The board approved names of Asif and Asjad Iqbal in Pakistan team for participation in IBSF World Snooker Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria. Alamgir A Shaikh will be PBSA delegate to attend IBSF AGM, Munawwar Hussain Shaikh will be team manager and Shabbir Hussain Daruwala, Official Referee.
Asif and Asjad Iqbal will also participate in Dubai international snooker from November 12-22.It would given them valuable training for the coming world event .in which 16 Asian countries are participating.
The Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association board appointed Abdul Rashid Lehra (Jumbo) to accompany the team for the above championship. The PBSA board also approved the publication of PBSA Newsletter.

 

[A.Rafay]

Two new projects to start soon
Under-construction flyover to be completed by December


Karachi

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has said that the under-construction flyover being built near the Jinnah Terminal would be completed in December and would then be opened for vehicular traffic.

This was stated by KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed on Saturday while chairing a meeting to review the development works related to various under-construction flyovers in the city.

The KMC chief said that the work orders had been issued for constructing the Mehran Hotel Underpass to make Sharea Faisal signal-free for vehicular traffic and development works in this connection would soon be launched.

He said that developments works related to four flyovers being built on various traffic intersections of Shahrah-e-Pakistan related to corridor-V, had been started. He said that the ground-breaking of the flyover to be built on Nazimabad Chowrangi, would be performed in the current month.

The KMC administrator said that the construction material being used in development works related to under-construction flyovers, should be of international standard.

Briefing on the occasion, KMC’s Director-General Technical Services Altaf G Memon said that the flyover being built on the Water Pump traffic intersection would be 460 metres long, having eight spans, 64 girders, 12 piles.

This flyover, costing around Rs493.95 million, would facilitate the traffic coming from Sohrab Goth, Gulberg, Azizabad, North Nazimabad, North Karachi, areas of the city.

The flyover being built on Ayesha Manzil traffic intersection would cost around Rs377 million and it would also be 460 metres long. The flyovers would have three lanes on both sides, having eight spans, 64 girds, and 112 piles. The flyover would facilitate the traffic coming from Sohrab Goth, Nazimabad, and Yaseenabad.

The flyover being built on the Dakhana Chowrangi intersection would have three lanes on both sides and it would facilitate the traffic coming from Teen Hatti to Liaquatabad. The flyover would be 460 metres long and it would cost around Rs369.978 million.

The flyover being built on the busy traffic intersection of Teen Hatti would cost around Rs266.65 million and it would facilitate the traffic emerging from Lasbela, Liaquatabad, Martin Road, Pir Colony, Sharea Faisal, Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

 

[A.Rafay]

Absence of mass transit system ups traffic woes
KARACHI – KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed has directed to start shifting of underground utility lines at the site of Hotel Mehran Underpass so that construction work on this project could be initiated. He also instructed the department concerned to re-organise the traffic management plan for vehicles passing through the site of this underpass at Shahrah-e-Faisal.Addressing a meeting attended by Metropolitan Commissioner Matanat Ali Khan, DIG Traffic Khurram Gulzar, DG Technical Services Altaf Memon, Deputy Commissioner South Mustafa Jamal Qazi, Deputy Commissioner Central Dr Saifur Rehman and other officers, he directed to construct this underpass in two phases. Firstly, work will be carried out on a track of the Shahrah-e-Faisal while this track will remain close for traffic on this track and the second track will be used for construction work after completion of work on the first track.He said the work on the project must continue round the clock and during holidays also so that a portion of this project could complete in two and a half months time.He said shifting of water and sewerage pipe lines beneath the site of project was very important and needs some time to complete hence the work on it must begin immediately.The DIG Traffic said massive traffic had ply on Shahrah-e-Faisal and its closure for traffic would cause trouble. The traffic diversion plan must therefore be prepared in such a way that other linking roads should not be affected during the work on this project. The administrator said Karachi was the only City of the world where no mass transit system existed and this situation leads to traffic-related problems. The shortage of public transport was also a reason of increase in the private vehicles plying on roads.It was suggested in the meeting that in order to avert traffic obstruction on both sites the work on Shaheen Complex Flyover and Mehran Hotel Flyover should not start simultaneously.Administrator Karachi Muhammad Hussain Syed said the shifting of water, sewerage, telephone and gas supply lines should begin in the first place whereas work on the second track of underpass at Mehran Hotel would be carried out after the completion of first track of this project. He further said the funds were available for shifting of utility lines and the construction of flyover and underpass. Citizens would have to face some problems for a while but they would also get better travel facilities after the completion of these projects.

Absence of mass transit system ups traffic woes | The Nation

 

[A.Rafay]

KMC seeks Rs700m for Zulfikarabad oil tankers’ terminal

Karachi

The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has said it would ask the Sindh government for Rs700 million required for the construction of Phase-II of Zulfiqarabad Oil Tankers Terminal as Phase-I of the project would be completed in the next two months for proper parking of oil tankers at the site in the outskirts of the city.

During visit of the construction work of the oil tankers’ terminal on Thursday, KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said that the construction of Zulfiqarabad Oil Tankers Terminal was an important project of Karachi which would be completed within the estimated time. Phase-I of this terminal was being completed at a cost of Rs313 million from which Rs156.77 million (50 percent) was being provided by the Sindh government.
KMC seeks Rs700m for Zulfikarabad oil tankers

 

[A.Rafay]

Commissioner’s priorities removal of encroachments, construction of Lyari Express

Karachi—Commissioner Karachi, Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi, has spelled out his priorities in a meeting with the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners and said that the eradication of encroachments, early construction of Lyari Expressway and a polio-free city. A statement on Friday, said that he has asked the participants of the meeting to take every possible step for the betterment of the metropolis and its people.

“ You should work as a team for the resolution of the problems and provision of relief to the people”, Zaidi told the Deputy Commissioners and the Assistant Commissioners. He further stressed that the observance of the rules and regulations should be the first priority.

The Commissioner said that making Karachi a polio-free city would be a big success for the metropolis, the province of Sindh as well as for Pakistan. He also directed that sale of eatables at the determined rates should be ensured.

 

[A.Rafay]

Re-construction of Shahrah-e-Quaideen enters final phase

Karachi

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said that the third segment of the reconstruction of Shahrah-e-Quaideen had reached the final phase of completion.

The Shahrah-e-Quaideen is being reconstructed keeping in view the requirements of vehicular traffic for this for the next 20 years and the quality of work had been assured so much so that this road could be reconstructed as one of the best and wider roads of the city.

The KMC chief expressed these views on a visit to the Shahrah-e-Quaideen on Friday along with the officers of the Technical Services Department.

In a briefing on the occasion, it was informed that being the central artery of the city this road had a lot of traffic pressure as thousands of vehicles used this road to access the central parts of the city and the Mazar-e-Quaid.

This road had been constructed 30 years ago and after usage for a long time, it turned into in very bad condition whereas the storm water drain was also in a broken state and caused many accidents.

The construction work and road carpeting was now in the final stage of completion and would be completed soon.

The administrator Karachi directed the officials concerned to complete the remaining work of the reconstruction of the road as soon as possible so that this road could be opened for traffic.

He said that the construction and repairing work of various important roads was being carried out on a preferential basis whereas the construction of four flyovers on Shahrah-e-Pakistan had also been started.

He said that the first time in Karachi, work on eight flyovers had been under way at the same time.

All these measures were aimed at developing all areas of the city on an equal footing and improving the basic city’s infrastructure to remove the hurdles in the travel facilities and improving them for the citizens.

 

[A.Rafay]

Dredging delays Pakistan Deep Water Container Port

KARACHI: The Pakistan Deep Water Container Port, which was to be completed by 2012, has been delayed due to technical reasons, said a Karachi Port Trust Official on Saturday.

The main reason for the delay is dredging as hard soil / rocks were found on the site, said the official.

China International Water and Electric Company (CWE), which was awarded the contract, is not willing to do the job at the awarded amount, however, high-level diplomatic channels were engaged for renegotiation of the project, including Chinese Embassy and Chinese trade commissioner but it could not be materialised because the additional amount is quite high, said the official.

The Karachi Port Trust is renegotiating with the China International Water and Electric Company to complete dredging in order to make the PDWCP a reality. However, negotiations have failed and the contractor has decided to resolve the matter through an arbitrator, he said.

The KPT chairman said that despite going into arbitration, work on the project will not stop.

Meanwhile, the decision of the arbitrator would be accepted by both the parties.

He said that the KPT is committed to complete the project and make it a reality and in such a complex project some technical issues are routine matters and they will be resolved.

According to sources, the dredging and reclamation contract was assigned to CWE, at the cost of Rs19 billion.

Total 33 million cubic metres dredging, including eight million cubic metres reclamation was planned; however, the contractor is asking for additional amount, which according to the KPT consultant, is very high.

CWE is asking for Rs2,476 per cubic metre against their contractual rate of only Rs428 per cubic metre, including disposal in 2008.

However, the KPT chairman said that the work has speed up and by 2013 by the end of 2013 the project will be completed and its first berth will be completed by September this year.

A recent visit at PDWCP site showed that the marine protection works for the project includes construction of three breakwaters and a sand dyke.

The marine protection works have been envisaged to comprise three rock or concrete (CORE-LOC units) armoured breakwaters to provide shelter to the port basin and for preventing sediment transport into the basin, which is almost 90 percent complete.

The company claims that the feasibility report did not mention the hard soil / rocks in the dredging area, and that is why the cost of dredging should be enhanced because the work is extensive.

The KPT official denied the fact that the report did not mention about the hard soil. It claimed that it is a large area of around 45 hectares, which was to be dredged.

There are different forms of soil and the report did mention about it.

The KPT said that the dredging claim of unforeseeable grounds condition / hard soil is being examined by the consultant Royal Haskonings. The project manager and the project engineer for Royal Haskonings, UK are now in Karachi and assessing different aspects.

They are examining the contractor’s claim and once the final recommendation of the engineer is received, engineer and top site supervision consultant of the project will hold meetings to resolve the issue.

The project is being carried out in phases and on public-private partnership. The cost of the project is $1.2 billion.

He said that 85 percent work on the marine protection is completed, dredging and reclamation works has been completed by more than 50 percent and work on Quay wall construction is in full swing.

The KPT chairman said that awarding the contract in respect of all components of the project was undertaken transparently after complete observation of all the formalities in line with the KPT Act 1886, defined procurement rules and stipulated guidelines of the Planning Commission, as well as the federal government.

 

[A.Rafay]

Ebad orders opening of Jinnah Terminal Flyover
KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan directed relevant officials to open Jinnah Terminal Flyover for traffic after completion till the end of next month whereas construction work of four flyovers on Shahrah-e-Pakistan should continue.

He said this while visiting Jinnah Terminal Flyover and other development projects in the city on Sunday.

Provincial Information Technology Minister Raza Haroon, Administrator Karachi Muhammad Hussain Syed, Director General Technical Services Altaf G Memon, Commissioner Karachi Hashim Raza Zaidi, Senior Director Municipal Services Dr Shaukat Zaman and other officers accompanied him.

He said that development works on large scale were underway from which citizens would feel big change in the city.

He said that under construction flyover on Shahrah-e-Faisal costing Rs 268 million would facilitate the traffic from Airport to National Highway.

The administrator while giving a briefing informed that the estimated time of completion of this flyover along with three lanes was eight months but it would be completed in six months.

He informed that the length of this flyover was 570 meters and width 10.5 along with nine spans.

Ebad also inspected the construction works of 14000 road costing Rs 106 million in Korangi which was being constructed from 9000 to 13000 road and 6 number market and two tracks on 30 feet wide road were also being constructed.

The Sindh governor directed to complete the construction of this road till 31st Oct along with installation of streetlights.

He said Korangi was a populated area and the residents here like other big areas should be given all facilities.

He also inspected the under construction bridge near CBM costing Rs58Million where construction work was underway speedily and 80 percent construction work of this bridge had been completed.

Ebad in the end of his detailed visits to construction projects in the city also visited Younus Shaheed Drug Free Hospital in Korangi where he met with the patients and said that after proper cure and rehabilitation of drug patients it was possible to make them beneficial for the country.

He further said that this hospital was being run under KMC and private partnership where good medical treatment facilities to the patients were being provided.

 

[A.Rafay]

KMC officials told to speed up work on flyovers
Karachi

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed has directed the officials concerned to ensure round-the-clock work on the projects of four flyovers on Shahrah-e-Pakistan (Corridor-V) with strict implementation of traffic diversion plan on the development sites.

The KMC chief said this on Monday while inspecting the work on the flyovers being constructed on four intersections of Shahrah-e-Pakistan.The administrator said the Shahrah was considered one of the most important arteries of the city as it connected the city with the Super Highway. In order to improve traffic flow on this main road, it was decided to construct one flyover each at the Water Pump, Ayesha Manzil, Dak Khana and Teen Hatti intersection of Shahrah-e-Pakistan which would reduce the traffic pressure on these traffic junctions.

The KMC’s D.G Technical Services while giving a briefing to the Administrator said that work on all four flyovers of Shahrah-e-Pakistan had been going on speedily and the traffic diversion plan was also being implemented to save the citizens from any inconvenience during the construction work.

 

[A.Rafay]

Lyari, Keamari to receive RO desalination plants

KARACHI - Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Monday presided a meeting regarding transfer of Lyari and Keamari Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination plants to special initiatives department at C.M House.The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Israr Malik, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Agha Jan Akhter, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Arif Khan, and Additional Chief Secretary Special Initiatives Department Nargis Ghalloom, Project Director Lyari Abdul Aleem Lashari, Project Director Keamari Gahwar Ali Leghari, Managing Director KW&SB Misbahuddin and others.Chief Minister Sindh said that Reverse Osmosis plants (water desalination plants) is a new and big specialized technology, and should be properly looked after and maintained so that facilities can last for longer time. He said that areas of Lyari and Keamari had been facing from huge shortage of water for very long time. He added that ROs project is specifically designed to provide additional water to the deprived people of Lyari and Keamari Chief Minister Sindh asked about the operation of those RO Plants on permanent basis. He also directed to a committee comprising of ACS (P&D), ACS (Finance), ACS (SID), Project Director Lyari & Project Director Keamari to have through study and put up necessary proposals as to who will run those plants effectively. The committee will submit its report early. The meeting was informed that six R.O plants are being installed at Lyari and 14- R.O plants are being installed in Keamari area.
Lyari, Keamari to receive RO desalination plants | The Nation

 

[A.Rafay]

E-policing in the City starts

KARACHI - E-policing began to end conventional policing in the metropolis, registration of computerized First Information Reports will flash out the traditional policing in the metropolis.
Sindh Police have started the computerized registrations of FIRs and established the interlink database network for all police stations. It is pertinent to mention here that computerized FIRs registration is a first step of the Rs940m project of E-policing approved in 2008.
Department of Information Technology submitted the report to IGP Fayyaz Ahmed Leghari about the registration of FIRs.
FIR could be lodged in two languages Urdu and English while two cops were selected from each police station and trained to run system while additional experts were not appointed for this job. The project of centralized computer network would interlink all city police stations, setting up traffic management plan, rescue call centres and reformation of prisons.
Sources said that the networking stage at the police stations is completed while police stations will be brought into the system gradually and finally all police stations across Sindh will be interlinked with the central database server set up at the Central Police Office in Karachi.
Sources said that that the selection of at least 250 policemen is continued for training from 107 police stations.

 

[A.Rafay]

Disaster management cell being set up in city

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed said that the KMC was serving the citizens by utilising all of its available resources.

While inspecting the gutted factory building near Gulbai he said that Karachi was a city of over 20 million people where thousands of factories and mills were located in six industrial zones that had insufficient fire extinguishing arrangements.

The city was controlled by more than 13 different organisations which creates trouble in emergency situations.

He said that a modern disaster management cell was being established in the city on the directive of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and a network of administrative, social and welfare organisations would work under it so that joint strategies could be adopted in case of any emergency like the situation in the city. These organisations would include KMC, KPT, all towns, KESC, CAA, Pakistan Railway, Military Land Management, Edhi, Chippa, Amn Foundation and other welfare organisations.

The administrator Karachi said that the establishment of such a cell would not only save time and make it convenient to provide instant help anywhere in the city but would also save the city from huge losses due to fire or any other mishap.

He said that the fire brigade took timely action and saved the affected factory and the whole area from any further damage.He appreciated the performance of the fire fighters who put their own life in danger and put off the fire.

 

[A.Rafay]

Shahrah-e-Quaideen work to complete soon: administrator

KARACHI: KMC Administrator Muhammad Hussain Syed on Thursday said that ongoing construction work of Shahrah-e-Quaideen would be completed by the end of this month.“The repairing work of the drain walls in the middle of Shahrah-e-Quaideen and RCC covering work would also be done to improve the flow of traffic on this corridor,” he said while inspecting construction work of Shahrah-e-Quaideen. In a briefing, he was informed that all work, including carpeting from Khudadad Colony to Noorani Chowrangi, had been completed.It was also informed that carpeting work from Noorani Chowrangi to Allahwali Chowrangi had almost been completed and construction work on third part of this corridor was underway speedily which would be completed by the end of this month.Muhammad Hussain Syed said that this corridor was constructed 30-32 years ago and it had been in bad condition with broken drain walls due to which accidents took place in the past.

 

[A.Rafay]

Go-ahead for flyover completion after 4 years

KARACHI - Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has decided to complete the construction of Jail Road flyover abandoned for last four years, mainly due to reservations of jail authorities and non-releasing of funds by the Sindh government.
One portion of the jail road flyover has already been completed while the other one passing beside Central Jail was left abandoned, as KMC officials gave no reasons for halting its construction.Sources told that jail authorities had reservations regarding security threats besides some house of the prison staff were to be affected by the construction of flyover. However, KMC officials remained tight-lipped on the issue. The construction of residential flats for jail staff inside the boundary of Central Prison, is now in completion phase and allottees would start shifting to them within next 15 days.
Inaugurated by the then Mayor Karachi Syed Mustafa Kamal in 2009, the flyover construction was part of a project named Signal Free Corridor (SFC-III) with a total cost of 2.5 billion including construction of four flyovers, with one at Jail Road (incomplete), one at Nipa with an elevated U-turn, one at Abul Hassan Isphahani Road and another at Samama Shopping Centre. It is learnt that Sindh government had also not released Rs 283 million of the total cost of Rs 380 million of the flyover that delayed the process.