President General Pervez Musharraf has called for undertaking concerted efforts to improve the quality of life by ensuring a clean and healthy environment in Karachi.
Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the Clifton Beach Park here on Monday, he said that the beautiful park, developed along the beach, would be extended up to Kemari, 3.7 km away.
This would be a great walkway for anyone who wants to jog and get involved in physical activities, he said, adding that the Karachiites needed more physical activity.
He complimented Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad Khan for coming up with the idea of having such a facility, and chief minister Ghulam Rahim for extending all help to Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal for pursuing this project very vigorously.
The President said that he had visited the place at 3 O' clock previous night and added that it looked more beautiful at night than in daytime. He urged all Karachiites to visit the Clifton Beach Park.
He said that Nazim Mustafa Kamal "is a young man who is energetic and full of ideas and has a will to do something" for the metropolis.
The President added: "I wish him best of luck. I will support him all the way and I am sure that the Governor and Chief Minister need to support him to improve life in Karachi to make it a better place for those who live in this city." He said: "I would like to see this city much better than before whenever I come here."
The President expressed hope that the city would come up to the expectations of its people and get revitalised, as it was in the past-in a clean, healthy family environment.
Musharraf said he was glad to see the city regaining its old look of exuberance and that socio-economic activities were picking up.
He said he was extremely happy to see the beautification of Karachi continuing, with a number of projects also nearing completion.
The President regretted that "the nation has seen too much of violence around in the region--in our west and in the east and within ourselves. Therefore, the people want entertainment and recreational activities". Cultural activities "are inherent' in any civilised society, he remarked. "Therefore, we need to encourage cultural activities and provide entertainment to the people in a good and clean environment." Quoting some examples, the President said that he was at the Kara Film festival previous night, and described it as "a great achievement by an individual" with less institutional support.
"We saw so many delegates from around the world at this festival. With the institutional support, we can turn this film festival into an event of world standard." Musharraf noted that culture "brings integration within and also integration with the outside world" which needs to be encouraged.
He pointed out that Tameer-i-Karachi Programme had been launched with a view to improving the communication infrastructure--roads, underpasses, flyovers--to smoothen out the traffic.
The President expressed gratitude to the federal government departments as well as corporations as these were the driving force for the Tameer-i-Watan Programme.
They are participating actively and generously and trying to develop and improve roads infrastructure as well as tackling the problem of traffic congestion in the city.
This is for the first time in the history of Pakistan and of Karachi that it is the participation of all those who use the roads to improve the road infrastructure of the city, he said.
He observed that a lot was happening and the programme might be a little slow but hoped that it would be speeded up. "Once this is completed, a marked improvement in Karachi's traffic will take place."
Referring to the need to improve transport system in the city, he pointed out that the facility of Karachi Circular Railway and Mass Transit Programme were being looked into again. "We need to move faster," he added.
The President expressed hope that the Karachi Nazim, "a dynamic young man", would be able to look into the aspect of Karachi Mass Transit Programme and Karachi Circular Railway, and would run them efficiently. "This will augment the communication infrastructure of the metropolis,' he said.
Musharraf directed that the Northern Bypass and Lyari Expressway be completed speedily as that would be the answer to the call for improvement in communication infrastructure and help address the problem of traffic congestion.
He stressed that Karachi Electric Supply Corporation must improve its performance which was in a miserable state with so much of power losses, stealth of electricity and corruption.
The electricity system, he said, needed to be improved and it would improve with its privatisation, which has now been achieved.
Musharraf said that after privatisation millions of dollars would be invested to improve the electric supply in the metropolis and as such the future of electric supply system in the city was very bright.
He said that another area that should be looked into is the sewerage system of Karachi.
Crediting Nazim Mustafa Kamal for his initiatives, he said efforts were underway to improve the sewerage system.
He said that the K-3, the 100 million-gallon daily (MGD) water scheme would be completed in March next year, instead of June--three months ahead of the schedule. "This augurs well for the future, and I compliment the Nazim for it," he said, adding that this would help improve the water situation in the metropolis. The President called for improving the cleanliness on the roads. City Nazim Mustafa Kamal presented a shield to the President on behalf of Karachi City District Government.
Later, the President performed the inauguration of the Clifton Beach Park. He also went round and saw the facilities that have been made available at the park. Earlier, Mustafa Kamal presented the address of welcome.
He also shed light on the salient features of the Clifton Beach Park.
The Nazim also spoke about the steps being taken by the City District Government Karachi for bringing about improvements in the infrastructure in the metropolis.
Governor Ishrat-ul-Ibad, Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Corps Commander Lieutenant General Athar Ali, ministers and high officials were also present on the occasion.