Karachi Transformation Plan: PM announces historic Rs1,100bn package

Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a historic Rs1,100 billion package for Karachi Transformation Plan on Saturday, during the premier’s one day visit to the country’s economic hub.

The package would mainly address chronic issues including the water and sewage issues of the city, alongside transport and solid waste management. “One year and three-year plans for Karachi’s transformation have been devised,” said PM Khan.

Sitting alongside Governor Sindh and Sindh Chief Minister, the Prime Minister said both the federal and provincial governments will contribute to this package. “We want to tackle all the issues of the city in one go,” said Imran Khan in his media conference.

Provincial Coordination And Implementation Committee (PCIC) has been established which will include all the stakeholders including federal and provincial members as well as the military, informed the PM saying that the committee would implement and monitor all the decisions.

Stressing on reforming the transport system in the metropolis, PM Khan informed that the Green Line and various BRT lines were included in the plan.

PM Khan said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will clear the Nullahs in Karachi. "There are encroachments in Nullahs and the Sindh government has taken the responsibility to settle the families who will displace as a result of the clearance of the Nullahs," said PM Khan.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the Karachi Committee at Governor House with Federal Ministers Asad Umar, Senator Shibli Faraz, Syed Ali Zaidi, Amin-ul-Haq, Governor Sindh Imran Ismail, CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, and others present. The PM was briefed regarding the situation in Karachi after record rains wrecked the city’s infrastructure, while the sewage system also collapsed.

PM arrival in Karachi

Earlier, it was learned that the premier is expected to announce Rs802 billion worth of development projects.

On arrival in Karachi, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah received Prime Minister Imran Khan. Prime Minister Imran Khan is accompanied by Information Minister Senator Shibli Faraz and Member National Assembly Amir Mahmood Kayani.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the major cause behind problems in Karachi is the non-provision of powers to the gross route level. He was chairing a meeting to review the Karachi Transformation Plan in Islamabad on Thursday.

The PM said that the recent rains have badly affected the city and regretted that sewerage and other problems of the city were not resolved in the past.

Projects under Karachi Transformation Plan

According to the plan, water supply projects would cost Rs 92 billion, Rs 141 billion would be spent on sewage treatment, Rs 267 billion on solid waste management, storm water drains clearance, and resettlement and Rs 41 billion have been allocated for roads.

Rs 572 billion have been earmarked for mass transit, rail and road transport, it added.