Karachi mayor says FWO, CBC working with Sindh govt on road and water projects in DHA

Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab on Tuesday said the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC) were collaborating with the Sindh government on road and water projects in Defence Housing Authority (DHA).

These schemes were floated by the mayor during an interactive meeting with DHA residents on Saturday, where he promised to build a water pipeline from Dummlottee to Masjid-i-Ayesha on the edge of DHA phases 6 and 7.

Speaking at an event in the city, Wahab said CBC would partner with the provincial government and the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), so water could be delivered “directly to people’s homes” in DHA.

The mayor noted that CBC had been “very forthcoming” when approached about the project and extended gratitude to the board for its assistance.

Mentioning FWO chief Brigadier (retd) Adnan Akhtar Ali, Wahab said that although the project timeline was 18 months, authorities expected it to be finished within 12 months — by next September or October — so DHA residents could receive 10 million gallons of water daily.

In another piece of “good news” for Karachiites, the mayor announced that the FWO and Sindh government were collaborating on a series of road projects to alleviate the issue of traffic congestion.

“There is an intervention at the intersection of Khayaban-i-Ittehad and Khayaban-i-Hafiz in the form of an underpass or a flyover,” Wahab said.

“Those travelling to Khayaban-i-Ittehad, [DHA] Phase 8 and Phase 7 will receive great relief,” he asserted.

“The Sindh chief minister and Sindh cabinet have given their approval, and we are working on the finality, then we will initiate the project.”

Wahab added that the FWO and the provincial government were also working on another flyover at the intersection of Khayaban-i-Shahbaz and Khayaban-i-Hafiz.

“The government has given its permission and approval and funding has been allocated. Once things are finalised, we will execute the contract and work on the ground to remove the traffic bottleneck for DHA residents,” the mayor elaborated.

He further said that to address traffic congestion on Khaliquz Zaman Road — namely from the Lily Bridge signal to the Bacha Party intersection — the local government would build a flyover, with the design to be finalised next week.

“Once it is approved, procurement will begin immediately so that the entire stretch from [II] Chundrigar Road to Creek Club to Khayaban-i-Ittehad will be one thoroughfare, and you will be successful in avoiding signals,” he added.

The Karachi mayor also announced that a 10-million-gallon elevated water line for Lyari promised by the PPP would be completed by Oct 20, and that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari “will tell you more on that”.

Touching on Shahrah-i-Bhutto, Wahab noted that the road benefited citizens and cut down traffic congestion, but acknowledged that motorists at Qayyumabad could face heavy traffic in one direction towards DHA.

“I am grateful to the Sindh CM and the Sindh local government minister for approving another intervention, under which Shahrah-i-Bhutto will be extended towards Ayesha Manzil,” he announced.

“From where we are standing, there will be connectivity to the expressway and people can avoid the Qayyumabad and Baloch Colony Expressway — and the Defence police station shortcut — and come straight onto the expressway,” Wahab added.

The mayor said: “We have always reached out to people, so let’s sit together to solve these issues. Finally, a process of engagement is starting where every institution is conversing and coming together to provide the people of Karachi with long-term relief.”

Earlier this month, KWSC and FWO signed an agreement to complete the laying of a dedicated pipeline from Dumlottee within 12 months to ease the chronic water problem in the salubrious vicinities of the city.

Karachi’s residents have faced water shortages for years, with residents resorting to getting water from tankers.

Earlier this month, a power breakdown at the Dhabeji pumping station, the city’s primary water intake point, left part of the city without water, KWSC said.

Similarly, on July 27, the city faced a shortfall of 48m gallons of water following a breakdown at Dhabeji, affecting areas including parts of North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg Town, New Karachi, Landhi, Korangi and Scheme 33.