Karachiites urged to question government policies

The civil society must have a questing attitude to keep a watchful eye on the government's policies. Dr Noman Ahmed, Chairman Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University said this at a forum on Dialogue for Change: "Mega Projects of Karachi and Citizens Perspective" here on Tuesday.
Dr Noman dealing with the definition and characteristics of mega projects underlined various "perceptions and myths" inculcated in the mind of common man by the government about the so-called developmental projects.
He highlighted various socio-economic uplift projects initiated by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) with so many flaws in terms of feasibility, management, implementation and financial allocations.
He said that less attention had been paid to the concerns of masses in the launching of mega projects. The mega projects are SAP I and II, Hubco Complex, Bin Qasim Thermal Power Station, Karachi Northern Bypass, Lyari Expressway and Karachi Elevated Expressway, Diamond City Project, Creek City Project, Sugar City Project, K-III and K-IV, TP-III Sewerage Treatment Plan and other projects in the health and education sectors. Dr Noman said that the government had been creating myths like mega projects are the right of "smaller" regions and the federal government was very concerned on common man issues, projects with colossal investment would ensure positive economic turn around and change the destinies.
The city government administration had less or no management and professional qualities to deal with the ongoing mega projects rather foreign professionals are hired and paid huge amounts from the developmental funds collected from common man as taxes, he said. He said that previously the tax payers' money of masses were wasted as they were not able to get the benefits of the so-called developmental projects. Adding he said that political stability is a must for the continuation of uplift projects as "Mera Ghar Housing Scheme" was banned by the recent military government after coming to power in 1999.
In documentary film on the Lyari Expressway Project he showed the miserable condition of the area people after their forced eviction by the government paying a nominal Rs 50,000. He said evictions or dislocations adversely effect the community life and overall profile of a region. He recommended a vibrant and questioning civil society in the wake of a dictatorial mode of government in the country and urged to set up a planning agency in the city.