JICA, CDGK ink MoU to promote investment

City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Japan International Co-operation (JICA) on Friday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an intention to promote investment besides securing international standard infrastructure in metropolitan.The MoU was signed by Administrator Karachi Muhammad Hussain Syed on behalf of City Government Karachi and Nozomu Ono, the representative of JICA on behalf of the Japan Government in a ceremony held in Civic Center.
District Co-ordination Officer Karachi Roshan Ali Shaikh, Deputy Consul General of Japan Masamichi Abe, Executive Director General Export Processing Zone Ziauddin and Director General of Board of Investment were also present on this occasion. Speaking to media representatives Administrator Karachi said after this MoU work on Mehran Highway is to be started with the cost of Rs 188 million.
He said that JICA has assured city government that Government of Japan would construct the 7-and-a-half km portion of Mehran Highway provided CDGK construct the earlier portion of Mehran Highway from Hospital Roundabout to Landhi Cattle Colony and Railway Track in four month's time.
JICA would monitor the construction of this portion of Mehran Highway which will include the construction of two tracks of four-lane road and storm-water drain on both sides, he added Hussain mentioned that in second phase, to be commenced in February, Japanese government would construct the remaining portion of the highway from Cattle Colony to Port Qasim while National Highway from Quaidabad to Steel Town will be constructed in the third phase of project under financial assistance from Government of Japan. At present 23 units of Japanese investors are working in Karachi and measures are being taken for increasing these units, he noted.
He said that the condition of industrial zones in Karachi is not good. Most of the infrastructures especially roads are in bad condition. This survey would pave way for their rehabilitation, reconstruction and ultimately more investment in these zones. Replying a question Administrator Karachi said that the removal of encroachments in the way of Mehran Highway is already started. Japanese Deputy Consul General Masamichi Abe said next year Japan and Pakistan are celebrating 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year and these projects would prove a milestone in the friendship between the two countries.