Karachi May 11: Representative of Planning & Development Department (P & DD), Mohammad Saleem Jalbani, IUCN representatives Nasir Ali Panhwar and Najia Siddiqui attended a meeting with M. Saleem Khan, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Local Government, Housing & Town Planning, Government of Sindh on formulation of sectoral strategies on urban areas and governance. These strategies would be part of Sindh Strategy for Sustainable Development (SSSD), being developed by the Sindh Planning & Development Department with technical assistance of IUCN. The ACS was apprised about the process of the formulation of strategy.

While giving feedback on the draft strategies, the ACS said there were various departments responsible for development of urban areas in Sindh. Mostly, these departments work in isolation.

He stressed the need for developing coordination among these departments for better planning and implementation of development projects.

He termed lack of housing a major problem for poor people in Karachi. 539 Kachi Abadis were regularized in 1985 and by now this number has been doubled. There is urgent need for mapping the city infrastructure by using geographical information system (GIS), he added.

Mr. Khan had reservations on the suggestion of converting storm water drains into box culverts as its maintenance would become a major challenge. His suggested these drains should be designed according to gradient with pumping of water to a recycling plant for using in the industrial sector.

Karachi produces more than 60,000 tones of garbage, out of which 50,000 tones are collected and rest is left on the streets and roads of the city. There are only two landfill sites, which are inadequate. Even collected garbage does not reach designated landfill sites, he informed. He suggested garbage transfer stations should be established along the way to landfill sites at shorter distances and mechanical sweeping system should be introduced.

Regarding the transport situation in Karachi, the ACS informed that there are 1.3 million registered vehicles in Karachi out of which 42 percent are motorcycles, 43 percent are cars, 8 percent are trucks and only 7-8 percent is pubic transport including buses, taxis and rickshaws. He said for city having population of 14 million, there is need of exploring other avenues to cope up with this issue. He said Karachi Circular Railway has been revived but city has been extended to such an extent that even KCR would not meet the future requirements of public transport. The ACS emphasized on providing incentives to the investors in public transport sector.