AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Karachi, February 14, 2013 (PPI-OT): Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan has said that the port city of Karachi had despite limited resources achieved excellent results with regard to development and it had completed all necessary preparations for the Mass Transit System in the city.
The people of the city would soon hear some good news on the subject. The supply of potable water project for the people of the city was one of major segments of the MST and the work on that scheme had already been nearing completion as the authorities concerned had expedited the pace of laying the necessary installation in that regard. With the financial assistance of the foreign investors, the said scheme would be kicked off shortly.
The Governor said that the essential facilities that were required for any mega city in the world were already available here and hence it was possible that with the utilization of the facilities available, the city could be transformed as one of world class city.
He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of the World Bank, which had called on the Governor Wednesday at the Sindh Governor House. World Bank Sector Manager Ming Zhang had led the delegation.
The Governor told the delegation that the city had immense opportunities for the direct and profit-oriented foreign investment as the city had been contributing around 70 percent of total revenue generated in the country and added to the National Exchequer.
He informed the delegation that despite the challenging situation in the country, the Multi-national companies had injected more capital to their businesses in the city because the Multi-national companies were convinced of the reality that the port city was the epicenter of trade and economic activities.
The Governor with heavy heart said that the city had the issue of its real identity but there were some section of the Media that had been portraying the unrealistic picture of the city while taking some petty incidents into account. The city had despite all the issues and adverse situations continued to enhance its trade and economic capacity.
The negative projection of the city by some sections of the Media had cause the direct foreign investment to decline. The resolution of issues of the city was dependent on foreign investment and in order to facilitate the foreign investors, due attention was paid on laying the necessary infrastructure and development.
The Governor told the delegation that in fact the World Bank and all other international monetary funds were fully aware of the innate trade and economic capacity of the port city, hence they should take measures for provisioning the necessary funds. While referring to standards required for any World Class city, the Governor quoted the World Bank Consultant University of California Prof. David Dow saying that high skilled innovative workforce, technology adept, excellent transportation and infrastructure, safe and secure, sustainable economic clout, ease of doing business, cost of doing business and high prosperity, demographic dividend and liabilities and life style assets were unavoidable. However, the political will and strong determination, these challenges could easily be overcome at the state level.
The Governor said that the port city was among the cheapest cities across the world while the population was comparatively higher but still the burden of increase in population was affordable due to existing infrastructure, which was also being expanded.
For more information, contact:
Sindh Governor House
Syed Wajahat Ali
Press Secretary to Governor
Tel: 99201217, 99201201-3
Email: press_secretary@governorsindh.gov.pk