Karachiites get a glittery new park

[LahoreEstate]

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal inaugurated the ‘I Own Karachi Family Park’ in Liaqutabad Town on Friday.

The I Own Karachi Family Park was conceived and developed by Liaqutabad Town Nazim Osama Qadri. The time limit for the completion of the park was fixed to be six months, however, the park was completed within 40 days at a cost of Rs 20 million. The park is established on 125,000 square feet and has a 600-meter long jogging track, two beautiful shades, more than 300 plants, 160 lights, four bathrooms, swings for children and wheelchairs for the handicapped.

Regarding the financial crunch faced by the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), on the occasion, Kamal stated that just like there are no U-Turns in the Signal Free Corridor-III, there are also no U-Turns in the city’s other development projects. The projects will not be halted, impeded or postponed, he said, reiterating his resolve to overcome all difficulties.

Kamal said that it is a fact that the CDGK is facing a financial crunch however, this does not mean that the people of the city get disappointed. The development work in the city that the Haq Parast leadership started would continue and any impediments would not curtail the pace of the city’s development, he added.

Stressing for the on time payment of utility bills, Kamal said that without the help of the people, no institution can stand, hence, the people of city should pay their utility bills, especially water and infrastructure tax, on time so that CDGK could sustain the financial retrenchments. The people of the city have come to own the city however, now there is a need for them to play their role regarding the execution of mega projects, he added.

“Pakistan is passing through an economic crisis due to which I would talk about getting funds for the city’s development from the federal government. However, the delays in transfer of funds through the single line transfer system and the withholding of octroi tax amounts have added to the financial crunch of the CDGK,” said Kamal.

Kamal said that the CDGK is facing an acute shortage of funds worth Rs 690 million, which is a serious matter. Therefore, Kamal said that he would request President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to take personal notice of the situation and help overcoming the shortage.

“The city’s development being compromised will bring about great anguish especially if only the paucity of funds proves to be the cause of halting the development of the city, therefore, I will bring on board the citizens of the city and would request them to donate so that the city’s new face can last,” Kamal commented.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...09_pg12_10