Chairman, Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Productions Senator Nisar Memon on Sunday called for execution of the proposed Diamond City mega project to develop a modern city on the twin islands - Bundal and Dingi, with the consent of concerned stakeholders.
He was talking to newsmen during a tour along with a team of journalists, in a boat to the surroundings of the twin islands Bundal and Dingji, situated in south east of Korangi Creek Zero Point here.
It may be noted here that recently an agreement was inked between the federal government and a Dubai-based firm "Emaar" to develop the twin islands in shape of a new city of the international level on the threshold of Port Qasim.
The proposed mega project to develop city on twin islands costing about 43 billion dollar will take 15 years to complete. He observed that the stride of government to develop the islands as a modern city is indeed a remarkable step but the stand point of the concerned stakeholders, especially, local fishermen, about the proposed project was also equally important.
Senator Nisar Memon said the objective of the tour was to know the facts about the islands and communicate the same to the concerned authorities with the view to ensure execution of the project, whenever it starts, on real grounds. He said that deliberations should also be made by the government to decide the issues relating to the land ownership of the islands.
Senator Nisar Memon said the fishermen community has expressed some reservations that the project will cast negative impacts on the employment of fishermen.
According to the fishermen community total 17 major and other minor creeks form the Indus Delta while the same are also meant for livelihood for them, he added.
Nisar said environmental concerns expressed by stakeholders including expected damages to ecology and marine life due to execution of the project are also needed be addressed.
He further called for deciding the matter pertaining to the ownership of these twin islands and information about the same to be made public.
Senator said freedom of information is a key which, he said, if made available for public consumption, enables people to understand the reasons for making the particular decision by the government on certain matters.