News
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Out-of-box solution needed for Karachi: Zardari* President stresses safer Karachi vital for economic development of country
Staff Report
KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday an out-of-the-box solution was needed for restoration of peace and stability in Karachi. He said this while speaking at ceremonies held at the Sindh Chief Minister House for laying the foundation stone of the Zulfikarabad Expressway and launching of residential projects.
He said that Karachi was the economic hub and backbone of the country and it needed special attention. He said the city could only bear the burden of the country when it was safe and stressed the need for some unconventional solution to restore peace and stability.
President said the PPP, MQM and ANP alliance could provide safety to Sindh province. “Our critics do not realize where the country could have stood had we not united”, he said adding that unity of the political forces should be further strengthened.
President said that their current tenure was about to expire and in the next tenure, he added, they will focus on security, and strengthening of civilian institutions by allocating more funds.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also spoke on the occasion. Later, President Zardari also had a meeting with senior members of the Sindh Cabinet belonging to his party wherein they discussed the current political situation.
President inaugurates development projects: The president inaugurated a number of development projects in various parts of Sindh aimed at further improving the infrastructure of the province and provision of health and housing facilities for people.
The development projects inaugurated, included foundation stone laying of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Expressway from Garho to Shah Bundar, inauguration of new buildings of District Headquarter Hospitals at Badin, foundation stone laying of District Headquarter Hospitals Dadu, Emergency Trauma Centres at Taluka level Badin, Shikarpur and the launch of Township Scheme in Karachi under the Benazir Shaheed Housing Project.
Those present at the ceremony among others, were Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Managing Director Zulfikarabad Development Authority, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, MPAs and other high officials.
Addressing the ceremony, the President said that the present government while pursuing its development agenda in the past five years, accorded top priority to the infrastructure development and provision of basic health and housing facilities to the people.
He said that all the projects inaugurated and many more to be completed soon, had been undertaken to fulfill the pledges of the government made with the people of the country.
Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the President while commenting on the foundation stone of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Expressway from Garho to Shah Bander, said that the 44 kilometre-long road would contribute to the economic development of the area and the well-being of the people.
The President hoped that the project would provide an easy access to fishermen on sides of the Indus River and help in alleviating poverty.
He said it would also help improve development of seafood industry and minimise losses due to lack of storage and transportation facilities.
The President commended Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Managing Director ZDA and his entire team for building this road.
He expressed confidence that the project would stimulate the local economy by creating jobs and enhancing connectivity.
The President during his speech while referring to the law and order situation in Karachi, said that pursuing reconciliatory approach, the government together with allies and other stakeholders, was working for ensuring peace and stability in the city. He stressed a safer Karachi was vital for the economic development of the whole country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk