We have read with great interest the Supplement of January 12, celebrating two successful years of democratic government in Sindh. In the above supplement, the Honourable Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, has enumerated his meeting with the President of Pakistan when "most important matters were discussed. He showed very keen interest and he gave a package of Rs 29 billion for Karachi."
Accordingly, the President had directed that, out of Rs 29b, the Federal Government would contribute Rs 8b, the Sindh Government Rs 3b, the City Government Rs 6b and the remaining Rs 12b would be contributed by various stakeholders (ie KPT, NBP, Steel Mill, SBP, EPB, etc). The stakeholder for the industrial estates of Landhi, Korangi, Federal B Area and North Karachi was named as Export Promotion Bureau.
Unfortunately, due to non-participation of the Export Promotion Bureau (as reported in the newspapers of 12th January), development work for infrastructure improvement in the industrial estates is pending for the past 2 years. In Korangi, the Jam Sadiq Ali bridge is on the verge of collapse while the Main 8000 road (the artery to National Highway) is dilapidated and flooded with sewerage.
In the above supplement, the Governor has stated that "industrialists are the backbone of our country" and that "the most important factor contributing to crime, extremism and terrorism is unemployment." You will appreciate that the uplift of industrial estates will greatly encourage further investments and provide employment at all levels.
We humbly appeal to the Governor and the Chief Minister of Sindh to intervene and direct the Export Promotion Bureau to meet its commitment by participating in the 'Tameer-i-Karachi Programme' for the industrial estates of Karachi.