'CDGK to welcome foreign investment'

The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) will welcome foreign investment in different sectors, and provide all possible facilities to investors in this regard.
The investment would be more encouraged for development of coastal areas, water and sewerage system, treatment of used-water, Dolphin Park, Information Technology Park, Safari Park, Amusement Park, low-cost housing projects, transport and mass transit project.
This was stated by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan during a meeting with a 20-member trade delegation of Singapore on Monday night.
The Singapore delegation headed by Singapore Health and Transport Minister Dr Balaji Sdasivant, evinced keen interest to invest in Karachi.
The meeting was also attended by DCO Karachi Mir Hussain Ali, Director General Mass Transit Program Malik Zaheerul Islam, EDO (water and sanitation) Shahid Salim, EDO (works and services) Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, EDO (IT) Khawaja Shafique Ahmed, EDO (E&IP) Raeesuddin Paracha, EDO (health) Dr Fazal Ellahi Memon, EDO (revenue) Wasim Ahmed and officials of trade and commerce and other departments.
The City Nazim said that Karachi is the biggest industrial and economic city of Pakistan, and stands sixth in the rank of biggest cities of the world.
"Karachi has a population of over 140 million with an average population growth rate of 5 percent annually, as compared to overall population growth rate of Pakistan which is 2.5 percent annually", he added.
He observed that the growth in population of Karachi is adding enormously to the civic problems of the city, which has 538 slum areas where provision of water, sewerage system and other facilities is among top priorities of the CDGK.
"The CDGK wants to construct low-cost housing projects for homeless people of the city, and the foreign investment would be welcomed for fulfilling this desire", he maintained.
The City Nazim said that delegations from several countries are contacting the CDGK for investing in city, adding the CDGK wanted to make process of every agreement and project transparent.
"We are trying our utmost to make Karachi "City of Pakistani people' and every person has the right on Karachi and facilities of transport, health, residence, social welfare and others should be provided to all people of Karachi", he maintained.
He said that people should be provided recreational facilities for which the CDGK has planned amusement parks and development of beaches.
"The CDGK is carrying out plantation in green belts and parks along with construction of roads, bridges and flyovers to make city clean and green", the City Nazim.
Naimatullah Khan hoped that projects of Dolphin Park, Safari Park, IT Park and development of beaches would gain the attention of people.
He said he is personally thankful to investors and trade companies of Singapore for investing in city and their co-operation in this regard, adding: "Karachi has given a lot to people in past, and is still giving."
DCO Mir Hussain Ali said that power would be supplied by the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) in different projects and invited the delegation to invest in housing and other sectors.
DG Mass Transit referring to statistics of traffic accidents in Karachi, said that road safety education, parks and other related projects could be started with the co-operation of Singapore.
The EDO (water and sanitation) briefed the delegation about the details of treatment plant and other projects.
Singapore's Minister Dr Balaji Sdasivant said the delegation's visit to Pakistan was to find the trade and investment prospects in Pakistan, and get information from government departments concerned to get acquainted with the trade rules and regulations.
"Members of the delegation are taking deep interest in investing in Pakistan and common trade with the country, and are observing the markets and projects in big cities of Pakistan", Dr Balaji added.