Mayor Karachi Supports SITE DMC Proposal, Pledges Additional Development Funds

Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab on Thursday endorsed the creation of a S.I.T.E. Development & Management Company, modeled on the DMCs of Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi and Federal B Area, to manage infrastructure and upkeep in the S.I.T.E. industrial zone.

Speaking to the S.I.T.E. Association of Industry alongside Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi, Wahab emphasized stronger coordination between the Association, the Mayor’s Office and the Commissioner’s Office to address industrial challenges. He suggested holding monthly meetings, a proposal welcomed by the attendees.

The Mayor urged swift progress on the ongoing Rs2 billion Grant-in-Aid project being carried out in 3 phases by the S.I.T.E. Association. He noted that completing it on schedule would strengthen the case for requesting further government funding for the area.

Wahab also announced major water projects for industries. A 35 MGD secondary treated water facility at TP-1 with 1800 TDS will begin test runs within 10 days. A 1 MGD pilot tertiary plant to reduce TDS to 500 is expected by end-August. He said 100 MGD of treated water will be supplied to industries by December.

S.I.T.E. Patron-in-Chief Zubair Motiwala called for using Infrastructure Development Cess funds to build a Karachi bypass to ease heavy traffic. Association President Abdul Rehman Fudda and Patron Saleem Parekh highlighted concerns over encroachments, unauthorized tax collection and shortage of firefighting staff.