City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal reminds NDC delegation of city’s strategic importance in the region

December 19, 2009
By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has presented a successful model of good governance in the country, which has been appreciated all over the world. CDGK has spent Rs 250 billion on city’s development during last four years, which has improved city’s strategic importance in the region.

We have developed the city due to its strategic importance in the region and also due to the fact that the city contributes 68 percent share in the national exchequer. From our first day in office, we set up our strategy as regard to development works.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal stated this while addressing a 77-member delegation of National Defence Course (NDC) at a local hotel on Saturday.

City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal in his address said that in order to ensure transparency in CDGK works, services of consultants were hired for pivotal projects and adopted a comprehensive system of accountability at each level besides the arrangement of annual audit.

CDK had arranged for major part of development funds worth Rs 250 billion through better use of its resources, recovery of long standing dues and through public private partnership policy, claimed Kamal.

The war on terror could not be won with sheer use of the hard forces alone but this could only be caused to happen with the implementation of good governance both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Providing basic amenities of life to people such as clean drinking water, proper sewerage system, education and health facilities could ensure the victory, remarked Kamal.

Karachi holds importance also due to reason that it ensures 95 percent of NATO supplies. Drinking water for the NATO forces also goes from here and if this supply line was disconnected, the NATO forces’ operations against the terrorists would get tarnished due to various health disorders that might arise from use of contaminated potable water from battle field, reminded Kamal.

The National Security College Commandant Rear Admiral Khan Hasham representing the delegation thanked City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal and District Coordination Officer Karachi Muhammad Javed Hanif Khan for arranging their visit.

He said that they have been much impressed by the rapid progress in the city, which has provided them with the opportunity to observe this unusual phenomenon closely.

The documentary “Karachi-The Kohinoor” depicting the four-year performance of CDGK was also screened on this occasion.

The 77-member delegation had consisted of senior army officers from Pakistan, France, Australia, Malaysia, Nigeria and other countries on a study tour to the city.