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The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday “endorsed” Rs739 billion Karachi Transformation Plan (KTP) and allowed revision in the Master Plan for five terminals at Port Qasim.
The meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.
ECC discussed the plan thoroughly and endorsed, in principle, with the direction to secure approval from all relevant quarters before submission to Cabinet.
Dr Shaikh directed to follow all codal formalities with reference to various components of KTP.
The Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives had proposed that the Supreme Court of Pakistan should be requested for utilisation of Bahria Town penalty proceeds for projects adopted by the federal government for KTP. The matter pertained directly to the Cabinet. Bahria Town is reported to have deposited about Rs58bn to the apex court.
The Planning Division had reported that the federal government had committed to undertake Rs739bn worth of KTP projects through its agencies over the next three years and wanted to use three financing avenues — PSDP including foreign funding, PPP and Supreme Court funds.
The major projects under the KTP include:
- Greater Karachi Water Supply Project (K-IV) already given to Wapda,
- Settlement of displaced persons in flats to ensure clearance of nullahs and rivers,
- Green Line BRT,
- Karachi Circular Railway and
- Railway line freight corridor from Karachi Port to Pipri.
The ECC approved amendments in the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Master Plan for establishment under Section 10 and 11 of PQA Act of 1973 for setting up of five terminals including two liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, two multipurpose cargo terminals and one integrated container terminal on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.
In order to incorporate changes made in the master plan since 2001 and for future planning, the PQA was currently in the process of appointment of a consultant for revision in master plan. The firms have been short-listed and being presented to the infrastructure board of PQA board for selection of consultant.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Imran Khan was informed in a high-level meeting that 100 projects for Rs1.117 trillion will be completed in the Karachi Transformation Plan.
The meeting was held to discuss the project which had been announced by the premier a few months ago following the city’s dismal condition after rains wreaked havoc in the metropolis. Meeting was attended by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and federal ministers Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Asad Umar, Faisal Vawda, and Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.
The Prime Minister while stressing for timely completion of the projects said the redressal of Karachi’s problems on a sustainable basis was very essential.
The Prime Minister directed that before the removal of encroachments in Karachi, some alternative arrangements should be made and ensured for the deserving residents.
PM also directed to constitute of a Technical Committee under the Ministry of Planning for the formulation of recommendations to upgrade the capacity and utility of the K-4 project for the supply of water to Karachi.
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