KARACHI, Oct 20 (APP):Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has stressed that improving infrastructure in the Korangi Industrial Area is essential for accelerating industrial growth, strengthening economic stability and promoting business activities, saying better roads, efficient drainage systems and modern facilities would help create jobs and boost the national economy.
He was speaking at the inauguration of development projects in Sector 23, undertaken by the Korangi Industrial Trading Estate Development and Management Company (KITE-DMC). The event brought together representatives of industrial and business organisations, elected representatives and government officials to discuss infrastructure development and the challenges facing Karachi’s industrial sector.
Wahab said the Sindh government had released development funds for industrial zones across Karachi, including Korangi, and increased their allocations to support improvements in essential infrastructure. He described the initiative as a reflection of the government’s confidence in the transparent implementation of development projects.
He said the direct transfer of development funds to industrialists represented a significant step towards empowering the business community and strengthening the public-private partnership model promoted by the Pakistan Peoples Party and its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Urging industrialists to utilise the allocated funds during the current fiscal year, the mayor assured them that the government would consider further increasing the allocations in the next budget.
Highlighting the scale of ongoing infrastructure development in Karachi, Wahab said the city administration was undertaking the construction of 139 roads at an estimated cost of Rs68 billion, with the projects scheduled for completion within four months.
He also said the government had addressed several longstanding demands of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), particularly the Jam Sadiq Bridge project, which he described as an important development for the industrial area.
The mayor assured KATI representatives that he would visit the association soon to discuss notices issued by municipal authorities and develop a joint strategy, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to transform Mehran Town into an industrial zone.
Addressing concerns over emergency response capabilities, Wahab said the ban on recruitment in the Fire Brigade had been lifted and the Sindh government would begin the hiring process immediately to address staff shortages at fire stations.
He further stated that President Asif Ali Zardari had approved Rs7 billion for firefighting technology and modern equipment, paving the way for the purchase of 20 advanced fire tenders to strengthen the city’s firefighting capacity.
Earlier, KATI President Sheikh Umer Rehan drew attention to the numerous administrative and infrastructure challenges confronting the Korangi Industrial Area under the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and Korangi district administration. He emphasised that restructuring the administrative framework was necessary to resolve persistent problems and improve the management of the industrial zone.
Rehan also paid tribute to former KATI president Danish Khan for his services to the association and the industrial community. In recognition of his contributions, he announced that KATI Community Park would be renamed Danish Khan Community Park.
KATI Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said the Sindh chief minister had established the KATI Police Task Force in consultation with the association, reflecting efforts to address security concerns affecting industrialists and businesses.
He also called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations on Shahrah-e-Bhutto, warning that the uncontrolled movement of heavy vehicles posed a serious risk of road accidents. Chhaya added that industrialists had reservations about the Yellow Line project and urged the authorities to address their concerns through consultation with affected stakeholders.
KITE Chairman Zahid Saeed highlighted the distinctive geographical and industrial significance of Karachi, noting that the Korangi Industrial Area alone covered approximately 12,000 acres. He said its scale underscored the importance of providing adequate infrastructure and development resources to sustain industrial activity.
Saeed welcomed the inclusion of SITE and Port Qasim associations in the provincial development grant programme, adding that the Sindh chief minister had pledged to increase the allocation further in the next budget.
KITE Chief Executive Officer Saleem-uz-Zaman delivered the welcome address.
The event highlighted the need for sustained cooperation between the provincial government, municipal authorities and industrial organisations to address infrastructure deficiencies, improve public services and create a more conducive environment for businesses. Participants emphasised that investment in industrial infrastructure would be crucial to supporting economic activity, generating employment and strengthening Karachi’s role as a major commercial and industrial centre of Pakistan.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
