950803

Fahim briefs journalists

Rs 2.5b allocated

for Karachi's

uplift projects

KARACHI: Administrator KMC, Fahim Zaman Khan, has said that a record allocation of Rs. 2.5 billion has been made in the 1995-96 budget for Karachi's development projects.

He stated this while speaking at a dinner hosted for visiting journalists from Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar on Wednesday.

Earlier, in the day the journalists visited KMC Head Office where they were briefed by the Administrator about development projects. The Advisor to Chief Minister for Information, Mohammad Yusuf Advocate, Secretary Information Shafiqur Rehman Paracha and senior KMC officers were also present on the occasion.

Fahim Zaman told the journalists that new KMC leadership has launched a number of major projects in a short span which included flyovers, bridges, sports playfield, gardens, widening of roads etc.

He said it was for the first time in 10 years that such big projects are being launched in Karachi with personal interest of prime minister.

He informed that for the first time in Pakistan's history the Federal government gave over Rs. 700 million grant to KMC and KWSB which would be spent on development projects.

The Administrator said although water is brought from too far from Karachi at a big cost, the important thing is that KWSB was not successful in the recovery of taxes. He said that lacking public cooperation was another reason and new procedure was being adopted for recovery of taxes.

Fahim Zaman said that it will take some time for providing better civic facilities to the citizens.

On the occasion the journalists were provided information about on-going KMC and KWSB projects with the help of slides.-APP