Karachi Package: government releases all funds for infrastructure projects

Federal Government has released all funds, allocated in the current financial year for infrastructure projects under Karachi Package. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led federal government also released almost all the allocated funds for Greenline Bus Rapid Transit System in the current fiscal, the data related to fund releases indicates.

After non-releases in the first quarter of this fiscal, the sudden release of allocated funds in month of October is attributed to a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P)'s delegation in the start of this month, in which the party emphasized for release of funds for projects, falls under Karachi Package.

MQM-P's MNA Aminul Haq confirmed to this scribe when contacted that during the meeting, we urged Prime Minister to direct for release of funds so that work on these projects can be expedited for infrastructure development.

Karachi package includes construction of Fly-over at Sakhi Hassan, Five Star, & KDA Roundabout along Sher Shah Suri Road, Karachi, Re-construction of Mangho Pir Road from Jam Chakro to Banaras, Karachi, Re-construction of Nishtar Road & Mangho Pir Road, Karachi and Rehabilitation/ Upgradation of Existing Fire Fighting System of KMC, Karachi.

Aminul Haq said that Karachi Package was announced during the previous government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) when MQM-P committed to give "vote of confidence" to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on the condition that federal government announced infrastructure development project for the metropolis.

Amin noted that infrastructure development is the responsibility of provincial government, but the MQM-P had to seek the help from the federal government due to negligence of the PPP-led Sindh Government towards development of city.

The data shows that the federal government released the allocated amount of Rs 893 million in the current fiscal for construction of Fly-over at Sakhi Hassan, Five Star, & KDA Roundabout along Sher Shah Suri Road, Karachi, whose total cost has been estimated at Rs 2.386 billion.

The allocated amount of Rs 1.064 billion for re-construction of Mangho Pir Road from Jam Chakro to Banaras, Karachi has also been released. The total cost of the project stands at Rs 2.440 billion.

The allocated amount of Rs 1.118 billion te-construction of Nishtar Road & Mangho Pir Road, Karachi. Its total cost is Rs 1.900 billion.

Allocated funds of Rs 855 million for rehabilitation/ Upgradation of Existing Fire Fighting System of KMC, Karachi under Karachi package has also been released. The total cost of the project stands at Rs 1.876 billion.

Apart the development projects under Karachi Package, the federal government released Rs 1.838 billion against allocated amount of Rs 2.0 billion for Greenline bus project in this current financial year.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019