CM-WB agree to construct new bridges-Jam Sadiq bridge alternate.

KARACHI -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah along with his team and the World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine while reviewing the overall World Bank portfolio agreed to repair Jam Sadiq Bridge and construct a new one as its alternate to meet the requirement of mass transit system and also agreed to reform water board which is overdue.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sardar Shah, Mukesh Chawla, Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Advisor Rehabilitation Rasool Bux Chandio, Special Assistant on Investment Qasim Naveed, Special Assistant on Social Protection Haris Gazdar, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput, Chairman P and D Hassan Naqvi and concerned provincial secretaries, said a statement on Friday.

It was pointed out that Jam Sadiq Bridge needed to be overhauled /repaired to meet the requirement of the mass transit system being developed.

The meeting also agreed to construct a new bridge as an alternate of the Jam Sadiq Bridge.

The chief minister directed P and D department to prepare PC-1 for repair of the existing Jam Sadiq Bridge and plan for the new bridge along with its site.

The participants also discussed matters regarding reforming Karachi Water and Sewerage Board.

The chief minister said that he was trying to make KWSB a self-sustained, highly professional, and efficient organization under the WB-assisted Water and Sewerage Services Improvement Project, but the desired results have yet to come.

The meeting was told that a headhunting firm has short-listed the names of CEO for KWSB and its board would approve/recommend one of them for appointment shortly.

The chief minister said that he has discovered that the sewerage and water distribution system of the water board is not documented properly.

He added that it was in the mind and hearts of some of the senior and now retired engineers, therefore we have to document it and then keep it improving as per requirement of the city.

At this, the World Bank assured the chief minister that their experts would help the provincial government to document it.

While discussing the Competitive and Livable City of Karachi Project, it was pointed out that the collection of Urban Immovable Property Tax has been handed over to the local councils.

The World Bank was told that the property tax collecting staff has been given to the local government department for continuing collection for next two or three years. By that time local...