New Gwadar International Airport & Five flyovers and three underpasses

The under construction New Gwadar International Airport, which was due to be completed by end of 2013, would now be completed by December 2014

According to official sources here, the PC-1 of New Gwadar International Airport Project was approved in September 2008 with implementation schedule of 48 months.

The initial Site Protection Work was started in January 2009 with a planned completion time of 10 months.

However, due to law and order situation of the area and frequent interruption, extensions have been granted to the contractor. Consequently, the progress remained slow and the project schedule was affected adversely.

Presently, only 27.73 percent progress was achieved with regards to Site Protection Work by Frontier Works Organization (FWO).

The remaining works on the airside infrastructure, terminal building, cargo and allied services are at planning stage with consultant M/s NESPAK.

The sources informed that considering the uncertainty associated with the project, no definite date for completion of this project can be ascertained.

The planning of the project depends on successful launching of remaining works, provided peace and harmony prevailed in the area and subject to completion of Site Protection Work, amicable resolution of land disputes with the locals, remaining works can be planned to be completed by December.

Five flyovers and three underpasses would be built in the metropolis to remove traffic congestion and provide relief to the people.

This was decided when Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah called on Governor Sindh, Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan, at the Governor House here on Thursday evening.

The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers Pir Mazhar Ul Haq and Agha Siraj Durrani, Administrator Karachi, Muhammad Hussain Syed, Commissioner Karachi, Roshan Shaikh, and Principal Secretary to Governor, Mumtaz ur Rehman.

It was also decided that the work on these projects would be initiated soon under the Karachi Special Package to be funded by the provincial government.

The completion of these projects would help improve the flow of traffic at Share Faisal, Sharah-i-Pakistan, Ziauddin Ahmed Road, I.I. Chundrigar Road and main thoroughfare of North Nazimabad.

The meeting also followed up the decision taken by Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, and here on Wednesday regarding the Lyari Expressway.

It was decided that for the early completion of the project, all the concerned departments would work in a coordinated manner.

The Governor and the Chief minister expressed satisfaction over the on-going consultation regarding the matters pertaining to the local bodies system in the province.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Friday presided a high-level meeting at CM House here regarding restarting of the held-up process of giving leases to the poor residents of the province particularly in Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the work of regularisation of genuine and eligible villages was previously started and was stopped due to some complaints.

He added that as such an enquiry order was issued and detailed investigation has been finalised.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that there are hundreds of ancient and old villages, which not only existed before creation of Pakistan but were there since many centuries.

He added that previous government had always demolished such old villages and unnecessarily harassed and harmed the inhabitants of those old villages by demolishing the same.

Sindh Chief Minister made it clear that as per policy and programme under manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party, all such genuine and old villages are to be regularised on priority basis.

He said that the present government will provide relief to poor residents of those ancient villages by regularising those old villages while leases will be issued to those inhabitants.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah formed a committee comprising Member Allotment Committee, Lal Bux Bhutto, General Secretary PPP Karachi Division, Mir Ismail Brohi, all Deputy Commissioners of Karachi Division and officials of Board of Revenue Sindh, Gothabad Department, BOR and others, which will visit and verify the relevant villages in the light of previous reports and finalise the list within 15 days.

He warned that there should be no delay in the process of lists which should be prepared and finalised, duly signed and authenticated and submitted within fixed time schedule, that is, December 17, 2011.

Sindh Chief Minister also directed that the whole process of regularisation of villages and allotment of leases should be completed within three months.

He added that the list of 56 villages already finalised and approved be taken up early and 3,800 Sanads already prepared and awaiting decision, be distributed on priority basis.

The Chief Minister further informed that after completion of regularisation work of Karachi, the matter of regularisation of villages and issuance of leases to poor people of Hyderabad will be taken up.

Syed Qaim Ali Shah directed the participants of meeting to fully devote their attention to this noble cause so as to provide relief to poor villagers.

Earlier, provincial ministers Haji Muzaffar Shujra, Sajid Jokhio, Lal Bux Bhutto, Senior Member BOR and Deputy Commissioners West/ Malir presented their reports.

The meeting was attended among others by Sindh Ministers Nadeem Bhutto, Sajid Jokhio, Haji Muzafar Shujra, Sindh Chief Secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, Senior Member BOR Sindh Shahzar Shamoon, Deputy Commissioners of West/ Malir Karachi, Director Gothabad, Member Gothabad, Principal Secretary to C.M. Sindh Alamuddin Bullo, General Secretary PPP Karachi Division, Mir Ismail Brohi, Lal Bux Bhutto, Saleem Salar, Noor Hasan Jokhio.