Karachi Blog

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal has said the city government has started development work in all four industrial zones with the estimated cost of Rs4.5 billion which will be completed at the end of current year. After the completion of these projects, these industrial areas would be known as developed industrial zones around the world as the uplift projects which started some one and half month ago will bring Economic Revolution in Pakistan as ongoing projects will address water and sewerage problems in these industrial zones for the coming 50-100 years.

He expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Civic Center on Sunday.

The Nazim Mustafa Kamal said we are not developing Karachi but the impact of city’s development projects will bring positive impact on entire country as every countryman will be benefited through these projects at any level. He mentioned that the industrial zones of Karachi are known not only their huge amount of productivity but also active but no any single government in the past paid any attention to resolve basic problems in these zones. “We too had not taken any commitment in our election campaign to resolve these problems as there were also we had our vote bank but we are paying due attention to resolve its problems. The industries in these areas were lack of proper sewerage system as well as cater their need of water through water tankers while these areas producing 68 percent revenue for national exchequer”, he added.

He further added the city government in large national interest has started special uplift packages for the industrial zones including Korangi, Landhil, Federal B. Area and North Karachi worth billion of rupees and these projects will complete at the end of this year. In these projects, the city government is being introduced high quality imported sewerage GRP (Glassfiber Reinforced Plastic) pipes as these were durable and strong enough to meet the sewerage needs of industrial area for a period ranging between 50 to 100 years.

However, he also highlighted that the city government had spend Rs50 million to install new sewerage system in Jaffer Tayyar Society within 28 days to address 37-year old problem.

He recalled that the recent monsoon rains had badly damaged Bath Island and Clifton areas as the city government has started work to install new sewerage system in the area as well as the work to provide 3 million gallon daily (mgd) to the residents of Gulistan-e-Johar have also been started which will the completed within next three months with the estimated cost of Rs70 million. He said the construction of roads in the area from Johar Morr to Safari Park and Pehalwan Goth have also been started.

He also informed that a huge new state-of-the-art laboratory is in its final stages at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital which will be functional after two months as equipment worth million have been procured.

He stated the city government has also kick off the study for storm water drainage system in the city.
Answering a question, the Nazim Mustafa Kamal said the city government on the directives of court has been vacated the school building in Firdoos Colony and the children would be shifted in the nearby schools.
Regarding the U-turn on University Road near Ashfaq Memorial Hospital and Mumtaz Manzil, he ensured to take a study through city government’s engineers and these will be closed after they suggested on the favour of road users.

On another question, he said though the duration of completing the work on I.I. Chundrigar Road is one year but the work would be completed within six months when will be project started

Population Growth & Urbanization:

Karachi, the major commercial center of Pakistan situated in Sindh province, presently has a population of 13 million with an annual growth rate of 4.8 % compared to the national growth of 3% per annum. An unprecedented growth rate is mainly attributed to the large-scale exodus of population from all rural areas of Pakistan to Karachi besides natural growth. It is estimated that approximately 2,00,000 people are added to the metropolis every year or 35,000 households. By the year 2010, Karachi City may reach a population mark of 17 million.

Karachi urban area now extends over 1800 sq. km. (700 sq. ml. Or 444800 acres approx.), where as the area of Karachi Division is around 3366 sq. km. consisting of 18 towns, six Cantonment Boards and other agencies. It has a significant position in the nations’ socio-economic setting. It is the important hub of trade and commerce.

Role in the National Economy:

Karachi generates about 15 % of the national GDP, 42% of value added in large scale manufacturing and 25 % of the revenues of the Federal Government. The city’s economy is large and diverse, and, with largest and most dynamic Industrial complex in the country viz Sindh Industrial & Trading Estate ( SITE ), Korangi Industrial & Trade Estate, North Karachi Industrial & Trade Estate etc. The industries produce a wide variety of goods, from textiles to chemicals, steel and machinery. Karachi offers an ideal location for business. There is scope for expansion of tertiary sector and retail trade. The city has the main offices of Banks, Insurance companies etc.

Karachi is the country’s principal urban center, being more than twice the size of the next largest city. Karachi is also the transport hub of the nation: it contains the country’s two major ports i.e., the port of Karachi and Port Mohammad Bin Qasim as well as Pakistan’s largest International Airport. The city is expected to maintain its dominant role as a major industrial and commercial center over the next decade. Karachi has a vast coastline from Cape Monze in the west to Gharo in the east. Gadani and the Sonmiani Coast of Balochistan adjoining to Karachi have extremely fine beaches, while the beaches and islands of Karachi provide rare opportunities for recreation and tourism. The Arabian Sea is a regional resource for food supplies and deep-sea fishing. 

Climate:

Karachi is located on semi-arid zone but due to marine affects, it enjoys a moderate climate. May and June are hottest months of the year with temperature as high as 43.3 degree centigrade while January is the coldest month with temperature as low as 5 degree centigrade. The mean annual rainfall is about 7 inches. normal”>

Investment Opportunities:

Enjoying the status of commercial capital and industrial powerhouse of the Country, Karachi offers ample opportunities of profitable investment in various sectors

KARACHI, Jan 29: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has received $950 million to complete several mega projects, including construction of a 45-storey IT Tower at Civic Centre. This was stated by Executive District Officer (EDO) of Enterprise and Investment Promotion department of CDGK Said Hasan Naqvi.

The tower will house about 10,000 call centres, and be completed at a cost of $400 million.

Giving details of the projects to be financed, Mr Naqvi said these include an elevated expressway to be built on Shahrah-e-Faisal at a cost of $250 million; a monorail (corridor No 1) from Sohrab Goth to MerewetherTower will be built by a Chinese firm with a Pakistani partner at a cost of $300 million. Investors from USA, France, and the Gulf have shown interest in the project. The city government also intends to build a 5-star and a 7-star hotel at a cost of $200 million. Investors from Kuwait, and Qatar have shown interest in this project.

Three vegetable markets in the city on National Highway, Super Highway and along the Northern Bypass will be built. The cost of the project is being worked out.

He said City Nazim Mustafa Kamal and gave presentation to investors on mega projects planned by the CDGK during the Davos Economic Forum. The screening of a documentary on prospects of investment in Karachi, Pakistan’s commercial hub, was arranged on the CNN network during the Davos meeting. This was the first time a city nazim was included in the PM’s entourage to attend such an important world event

Courtesy Dawn

Karachi (Urdu: كراچى, Sindhi: ڪراچي) is the capital of the province of Sindh, and the most populated city in Pakistan, sometimes known as the City of Lights and the City of Quaid (شہرِ قائد), after Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea / Indian Ocean, north-west of the Indus Delta. The city is the financial and commercial centre as well as the largest port of Pakistan.

Karachi is an ethnically very diverse city. Urdu speakers, Punjabis, Sindhis, Kashmiris, Seraikis, Pakhtuns, Balochs, Memons, Bohras, Ismailis, and Bengalis. District Malir is predominantly Sindhi and Balochi. As of 2007 Karachi has an estimated population of more than 14.5 million making it amongst the most populous cities in the world