PPP ~ Development projects and modernisation of Sindh

[Qalandari]

Degree College construction in Hijrat Colony, Karachi begins
​

• 

 

[Qalandari]

Qaim directs P&D to complete 324 uplift schemes by June

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has directed planning and development department (P&D) to priorities development schemes in consultation with provincial departments by March 24 so they could be funded accordingly and also decided to fix April 15 as cut-of-date to release funds for development schemes going on during annual development programme (ADP) 2014-15.

Presiding over a meeting regarding allocation, releases and expenditures of ADP 2014-15 he said current ADP was of Rs 168 billion, including Rs 143 billion provincial and Rs 25 billion district ADP.

Under provincial ADP around 2,937 schemes have been taken up, of them 1,658 schemes are ongoing and 1,279 are new, he said.

Out of Rs 90.065 billion allocated for on-going 1,658 schemes finance department has released Rs 65.825 billion of which Rs 41.4 billion have been utilised. The utilisation comes to 61 percent.

For Rs 52.935 billion 1,279 new schemes the finance department released Rs 4.133 billion and they have utilised Rs 1.859 billion and utilisation percentage released amount comes to 45 percent.

ACS (Dev) Waseem said the number of schemes to be completed by June 2015 were 324 for which Rs 12951.548 million were required against which government has released Rs 10497.814 million and utilisation was Rs 6689.879 million.

Sindh Minister Finance Murad Ali Shah said Rs 3 billion were actually allocated for subsidy of wheat. But due to wrong policy of federal government under which wheat was imported from Ukraine Sindh suffered huge financial loss and it was forced to reduce price of wheat lying in godowns. Top of it Sindh government gave another Rs 12 per kilogramme subsidy on sugarcane price. In this way over all Rs 10 billion extra burden fall on shoulder of Sindh government.

Qaim expressed his displeasure on unsatisfactory report in construction of agriculture workshops. The P&D department should ensure quality work by sending its teams and he directed P&D department to file a detailed report on quality of work so action could be taken against culprits.

The chief minister directed Murad Ali Shah to fix April 15, 2015 as cut of date to release funds.

Qaim directs P&D to complete 324 uplift schemes by June

 

[Qalandari]

 

[Qalandari]

Of Bogota and Karachi: BRTS experts begin designing Blue line

KARACHI:
The plans for transport to a gated community off the Super Highway are just as spectacular as the real estate project itself. The developer has enlisted global experts to design the route that will connect Merewether Tower to Sohrab Goth where the project sits.

This route is called the Blue line, which was designed by the Japanese when they came up for solutions to Karachi’s traffic woes in 2010. The Blue line is meant to be BRTS or bus rapid transit in which a cordoned-off strip is dedicated to fast-moving buses in the middle of the road. BRTS, or the ‘jangla bus’ as it is known in Lahore, is internationally accepted as the cheapest and most effective way to move thousands of people.

The Blue line is just one of several lines designed around the old Karachi Circular Railway system. Other international groups have been visiting Karachi to prepare feasibility reports. The ITDP in Indonesia has been exploring the Yellow line and the ADB is said to be looking at the Red line.

Bahria Town’s interest in the Blue line is understandable given that it cuts through the city. It has proposed to the Sindh government that it will pay for this line. But as the project is a big one, the Sindh government has to open a bid. In the meantime, however, Bahria is already designing it, “so work could start immediately just in case the government gives the go-ahead tomorrow,” according to Ashar Lodhi of the local consultant Exponent Engineering.

Bahria Town has brought on board the people who created the world’s most famous BRTS line, TransMilenio in Bogota, Columbia. On Tuesday, an intelligent transport systems expert, Adriana Palacio of consultant GSDplus, spoke at NED University. TransMilenio is owned by the people in Bogota and has become a part of its culture, she said. “This is Karachi’s BRT system,” she argued. “It should be branded according to the city.”

Palacio is helping design the technology for fare collection, ticketing and fleet management among other elements for the Blue line. “You can have a smart card,” she told The Express Tribune on Monday. “We have to see how comfortable people are with technology.” A passenger needs to only touch or hover the card over the reader to pay and get on the bus. They can then recharge it at the ticketing booths. No swiping will be needed.

“We found in Bogota that people on average tended to pay for 2.5 trips,” she had explained. So if in Karachi one trip will cost, say Rs30, people are expected to give Rs75 each time they recharge their card. The smart cards can be blocked over a helpline if stolen.

Palacio will be working on a passenger info system, one that gauges when the next bus should come and a bus docking system. One concern is coordinating with the other parties that might be building the other lines in Karachi. “Integration is not just about convenience,” she said. “We need to work more on it because without it, the system wouldn’t work at all.” If the Green line intersects with the Blue line at Gurumandir, for example, Bahria’s team would ideally want to integrate the IT systems so buses don’t smash into each other.

Palacio listed other elements for the BRTS such as a website, a call centre for complaints and information and a surveillance system. Given that service and safety are high priorities, Lodhi said that they will push for a BRTS police as mentioned in the new Sindh Mass Transit Authority law. The violence that broke out in Lahore when people attacked the Metrobus is a concern in Karachi. “That is why [the Blue line] will be elevated,” explained Lodhi. When questioned about the historic buildings along Bunder Road, he said: “Can we afford not to make it.” The ultimate solution would be to turn the road pedestrian and ban cars but it is unlikely any political party will be able to take that pressure.

Former Bogota mayor Enrique Penalosa will be speaking at NED as well.

 

[Qalandari]

 

[Qalandari]

 

[Zibago]

Is ko bhe andar dal do

 

[Qalandari]

KMC TO BUILD FLYOVER AT KORANGI CROSSING.

Karachi, Mar 05: Administrator Karachi Saqib Ahmed Soomro has said that KMC was going to initiate construction of a flyover on Korangi Crossing 12000 Road for which tendering process underway and very soon work on this project will begin.Completion of this flyover would help solving the increased traffic pressure and traffic jam problem at this junction. He expressed these views while giving instructions to technical services department on the construction of flyover on Korangi Crossing. He also directed the D.G Technical Services to speed up ground work and other formalities for this project so that this flyover could be made in the shortest possible time. Administrator Karachi said a good number of vehicles using this crossing point on daily basis and with the raised traffic pressure it has become essential to construct a flyover at this location which would provide considerable convenience to traffic using this track. The D.G technical services on this occasion informed the Administrator that for the pre- qualification/shortlisting process for the consultants was underway for the construction of flyover on Korangi Crossing near 12000 Road Korangi. The consulting firm would provide the engineering and other services to KMC including detailed survey of site, study of ground, preparation of feasibility with detailed design and tender documents. Interested consultant firms were directed to submit the required information for shortlisting/pre-qualification by 2nd April 2015 in the office of the director general technical services KMC.

 

[Qalandari]

ADMINISTRATOR KARACHI LAUNCHES RECONSTRUCTION OF JAM SADIQ BRIDGE.

Karachi, Mar 06: Administrator Karachi Saqib Ahmed Soomro has said that in response to longstanding complaint of industrialist and traders of Korangi Industrial Zone the reconstruction of Jam Sadiq Bridge was started on immediate basis from Friday which would cost around Rs155 million. Owing to the necessity of this area the construction work of bridge has been planned to complete in a short period of 2 and half month. In order to save the people from inconvenience city wardens will be deployed for traffic control in the surrounding area. He stated this while talking to media representatives on the launching of reconstruction of Jam Sadiq Bridge along with the KATI President Rashid Ahmed Siddiqui and other office bearers and representatives of traders wheres Metropolitan Commissioner Masood Alam, Administrator Korangi Abdul Rashid, Director General Technical Services Niaz Ahmed Soomro, Industrialist Zubair Chaya, Muhammad Naqi and other concerned officers were also present on this occasion. Administrator Karachi said the reconstruction of Jam Sadiq Bridge was started after the reports of the building experts and engineers. The Korangi Industrial Zone holds much importance and the Jam Sadiq Bridge was used by huge traffic volume including the goods transport. Due to its dilapidated condition it was regularly facing traffic jam problems and it was becoming hard to access the industrial area,therefore, the provincial minister for local government Sharjeel Inam Memon immediately took notice of this situation and arranged for release of funds from the government. He also issued instruction to KMC in this connection which were promptly responded and the construction process begun immediately. Administrator Karachi Saqib Soomro further said that the concerned department and the officers were directed that without indulging into carelessness or negligence complete this job as soon as possible so that the citizens could be provided with convenience. He said the traffic police should also play its role while the bridge was being reconstructed and save the people from traffic jam problem around the site. Though KMC had many a time arranged for the repairing of cracks that had been appeared in the bridge but all those were temporary arrangements and now the reconstruction of this bridge was being done after conducting full survey and receipt of reports from building experts after which this bridge would prove durable and serve the city for may decades. In a briefing to Administrator Karachi it was informed that the bridge has two 24 feet wide tracks with a length of 1.20km. The bridge was constructed in 1992 and KMC has over the time performed various repairing works but the old bridge was now heading to more dilapidated condition and therefore it was decided to construct it in such a way that it could cater to the needs of the area for many years.

Complaint cells established for public convenience

 

[B+ Dracula]

One museum each planned at Karachi Zoo, Safari Park

KARACHI: A review meeting regarding improvement of Karachi Zoo was held under Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqi. Meeting was informed one museum each at Karachi Zoo and Safari Park would be built for preservation of history of zoo and to provide knowledge and information about animals.

Commissioner asked officials of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation to take suggestion of all concerned departments, organisation and experts who were concerned about animals in this regard so idea could be implemented according to international standard.

Museum at Zoo would be vertical due to limited space available at Zoo, however museum at Safari would be on land of 3,000-yard.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) announced Rs 1 million as an initial fund for constructing national level museums.

The meeting reviewed steps taken in Karachi Zoo for attending animals. The zoo administration was directed to step up measures of taking care of animals. Action would be taken against those illegally involved in sale of precious birds. In this connection, it was decided before initiating action sellers of birds at Empress Market and at other places would be given knowledge about relevant laws and importance of specification of animals, which were not allowed to sell according to law.

A local paint company wanted to carry out painting work on a portion at zoo as its corporate responsibility work

Zoology Department of Karachi University would hold a four-day seminar to highlight Zoo management about life of animals at Zoo. It was decided WWF would coordinate and cooperate in this regard and would arrange speakers from abroad to participate in the seminar. An internship programme in coordination with WWF would be arranged at Karachi Zoo and nominations would be made through schools.

One museum each planned at Karachi Zoo, Safari Park

20 horses transferred to Bilawal house Lahore on Zardari instructions | The News Tribe
Sharifs' burning tiger gets frosty reception | World news | The Guardian

 

[Qalandari]

Ground breaking ceremony of Madr-e-Jamhoriat underpass takes place

 

[Qalandari]

KVTC expresses gratitude to Sindh government

Karachi Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) in a statement to the media expressed its gratitude to the Government of Sindh. Since 2012, the institute receives an Annual Grant in Aid. The grant has enabled KVTC to continue working for the cause despite multifaceted challenges. This includes financial, availability of trained teachers and infrastructural challenges amongst many others. Upto70% of the trainees at the center come from socio-economically marginalized communities of Karachi and greater Sindh.

The centre offers a comprehensive program for the intellectually challenged (border-line to moderate) aiming to impart life skills, vocational training and functional academics.

As part of this module the training program works on the strength of each individual allowing them to be placed on jobs and providing counseling services to families and communities.

Talking to members of the press, Farhan Khan, Director Projects said, “Given the socio-economic environment of Pakistan, and with responsible citizens investing in different, more urgent causes like terrorism and IDPs, the Intellectually Challenged are facing more obstacles than ever before. Owing to which the timely intervention of Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh and Syed Murad Ali Shah, Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh for Finance and Energy allowed for us to keep our doors open.”

The Grant in Aid has been used to build robust systems of Governance and has led to the placement of over 50 graduate trainees on meaningful jobs. The center’s sports program continued to use tools developed by Youth Sports Trust.

KVTC expresses gratitude to Sindh government - thenews.com.pk

 

[B+ Dracula]

 

[Qalandari]

Under construction Jhirkan Bridge. It will reduce the travelling distance between Karachi and Thatta & other districts

 

[Kabira]

Please can you post latest updates on new projects? No need to post same old crap. I am quite interested in interior sindh development done by PPP i recent years.