Federal Minister for Communication Shamim Siddiqi, on Saturday assured of all possible assistance of Federal Government to Lyari Expressway Resettlement project to ensure better life and environment for the shiftees and to provide facilities for making their children educated and skilled.
He held out the assurance while speaking at a ceremony held for handing over 20 sewing machines for Skill Development Center established in Taisar Town with the, collaboration of Pakistan Baitul Maal and Resettlement Project.
The sewing machines were donated by National Highway Authority for this resettlement site, which adjoins Gulshan-e-Maymar and Surjani Town.
Shamim Siddiqi said the resettlement project was prepared for providing improved living conditions for shiftees of LEW project so as to get them rid of unhygienic living conditions at the banks of Lyari River and get them better residential conditions in clean and hygienic environment.
In this regard; he said, provision of all basic necessities of life at the three resettlement sides of the project was being ensured.
He described this resettlement project first of its kind in Pakistan whereby the shiftees were being resettled in an organised manner with all respect and honour.
"All areas inhabited by low income people are dear to us. Their development and improving their quality of life is on the list of our priorities" Shamim Siddiqi announced.
Earlier, Project Director LEW Resettlement project, Shafiqur Rehman Paracha thanked the Federal Minister for donation of sewing machines and sought government co-operation for setting up more schools and vocational centres to achieve the target of education for every child in a resettled family. He said this would be possible only through government sources.
He informed that after training the girls getting education at Skills Development Center, will be able to earn livelihood at their own. He said industrial homes will also be opened to bring technical skills of these girls in use.
Later, Communication Minister Shamim Siddiqi visited an under-construction shopping center at the site and also reviewed the pace of progress while walking through roads and streets. He directed that encroachments should be checked at the resettlement sites right from the beginning besides, creating an awareness about discipline and cleanliness.
On the occasion he also spoke to the officials of Micro-Finance Bank and told them to ensure the provision of loans to people on easy terms to help set up their businesses.
The Project Director Lyari Expressway Mohammed Yusuf Barakzai and Regional Director Pakistan Baitul Maal Colonel Firaz Ahmed Siddiqi were also present on the occasion.