New vision for Karachi

The two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has signed with the Saudi Engineering Group International (SEGI), seem to have been inspired by the urge to benefit from the hindsight.
For, the two different projects, envisaging a total investment of $500 million, will appear to be parts of an ambitious plan seeking to bring back to the city what had been deliberately destroyed several decades ago, and to recommence an earlier ambitious effort that had been deliberately abandoned later.
First, this should become evident from the move focusing revival of the tramway service that had long served a constantly increasing number of commuters in the fast growing city.
However, the keen interest now displayed for creation of a $300 million tourist resort at the Bundle Island in the vicinity of the Creek Club, may leave many sceptical in view of the fate of, at least, tourism-oriented Hotel Regency and a floating casino-like establishment at Clifton.
It will be recalled that the tramway fell an easy victim, seemingly, to an overblown sense of disgust for the shabby conditions peculiar to it and the then government's exaggerated fascination with modern vehicles of public transport.
As for the tourism projects, these were swept aside by what now can be described as the passion for Islamisation generated some two decades later during the years of General Zia.
All in all, the revival of interest in the new projects, can be attributed partly to some kind of repentance over the two earlier acts of commission and omission and partly to President Pervez Musharraf's bold thrust towards what he refers to enlightened moderation. Be that as it may, the fact remains that both the projects will be quite relevant to the KCDG's impassioned programme of hurriedly compensating for past lapses and putting in place all that this variously beleaguered megalopolis so desperately needs.
Unveiling the salient features of the MoU on the tramway project, the City Nazim made a pointed reference to the strong urge to facilitate the commuters with a safe, comfortable, affordable and sustainable mode of public transport.
For this, CDGK would enter into a formal agreement with the Saudi Arabian Group on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 30 years on specific route options.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that with the clearance of the feasibility report, an agreement for execution of the project would be signed for expeditious implementation, following recommendations of the report on possible route options.
As for the role of Saudi Arabian Group, it is to provide 100 percent financing and technical support, including transfer of technology/system to the city government.
The MoU, which covers a period of six months, would be followed by a legal agreement subject to approval of detailed feasibility by the CDGK.
In case of the Bundle Island project, the MoU provides for renting out, initially, for a period of five years, which will be automatically extendable to another five years and again similarly extendable to another five years.
Moreover, the Saudi Arabian Group, as the Nazim explained, would be responsible for obtaining all clearance, no objections and approvals whenever required from the provincial and federal governments, the CDGK only formally recommending their case and supporting it.
All in all, the two MoUs will be seen as marking the beginning of projects ideally suited to the fast growing needs of Karachi, that calling for its earnest pursuit.