CDGK’s Conference for Muharram in limelight: City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal satisfied with hassle-free arrangements for citizens and traffic

December 7, 2009

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has during past four years paved ways for utmost citizens felicitation as regards to civic problems, water and sanitation issues and above all extensive development have guaranteed that the citizens of the city would observe Muharram Ul Haraam with great ease and comfort. Any citizens would not be bothered for reaching any place of the city from one corner to the other due to construction of plenty of roads and Signal free Corridors-I, II and III. The Preedy Street has provided an alternate to M A Jinnah Road and Shahra-e Pakistan during Muharram processions.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal stated this while addressing a conference of Religious Shia’ite Scholars, Pakistan Rangers and Capital city Police, Town Nazims and dignitaries of the city at Civic Centre on Monday.

The conference reviewed the arrangements made by the CDGK and Town Municipal Administrations for religious congregations and processions during Muharram Ul Haraam.

The religious Shia’ite scholars and representative bodies of major Muharram processions expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and lauded City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal’s devoted efforts in this regard.

They discussed some issues of problems caused by the roads under development and appealed the City Nazim for speedy completion of roads. However, they also expressed their fear for security threats and demanded special attention.

Kamal said that as regards to special security measures during the month in order to prevent any untoward situation, Capital City Police (CCP) should deploy extra police force on entrances and exits of Muharram processions.

Kamal further said that the whole area starting from Nishter Park to Merewether Tower would be monitored through Command and Control Center and citizens complaints registered at CDGK Complaint Centre 1339 would be instantly forwarded to police.

Henceforth, CCP should identify certain special CCP telephone numbers so that the CDGK Command and Control System and CDGK 1339 Complaint Centre should react promptly and the law enforcement agencies should be informed of any fishy act or movement of miscreants.

Kamal added that the Capital City Traffic Police should guide people of alternate signal free routes and in this regard, the heavy traffic plying on Northern Bypass should be temporarily diverted on peripheral avenues.

Kamal informed the conference that he had written a letter to the National Highway Authority and the Motorway Police to open the links on main Super highway as these two were the controlling authorities of the artery.

Kamal also said that lighting on streets would be improved while the Karachi Electric supply Company Ltd would be approached for minimum load shedding during Muharram days.

In reply to a few suggestions, Kamal said that the CDGK could not convert the Saddar Car Parking Plaza into free parking site during Muharram days not it could transform dedicated CNG buses into special shuttle service because of the compulsion that these two facilities had already been outsourced to private operators. However, the Saddar Car Parking Plaza could be used liberally as it was a multi-storied building with extensive capacity for parking of the vehicles.

Kamal said that the CCP would assume charge of the city wardens while CDGK Rescue Service 1122 would be available during Muharram processions.

Dr Amin of CCP while addressing the conference thanked City Nazim for the installation of Command and control System, which he termed as most helpful tool for prompt detection and apprehension of any suspect.

Dr Amin said that CCP would make use of that Command and control System so as to ensure multi-dimensional vigilance of the city especially the procession routes.

Allama Abbas Komeli while addressing the conference expressed his concern on security threats and had identified Line Area, Abbas Town and Orangi Town as the hot seat of fear.

Komeli requested City Nazim to conduct a survey on certain entry and exit routes on main procession avenue and take measures for securing the procession routes on M A Jinnah Road.