During his visit to Bhit Island, Chief Minister Murad Shah ordered vaccination of fishermen through a Boat Unit
Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Wednesday announced construction of three floating jetties and passenger sheds at Baba, Bit Islands and Mubarak village costing Rs.250.561 million.
“I am working on a scheme to construct a bridge connecting all three islands – Bhit, Baba and Shams Peer with the city,” he said while addressing a reception hosted by fishermen leader Hussain Aslam Bhatti at Bhit Island.
The program was attended by a large number of fishermen of the area. The CM was accompanied by provincial Ministers Nasir Shah, Bari Pitafi, Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab, Special Assistants, MNA Qadir Mandokhel, PPP leader Humayn Khan, Commissioner Karachi, DIG Karachi and others.
Shah sailed in a boat to Bhit Island where addressing the reception he said that he has close association with fishermen. “My village is located near Manchhar Lake – where hundreds if fishermen were living on the boats and on its banks,” he said and added ‘therefore I have firsthand knowledge of fishermen’s problems`.
Shah said that he was also exploring ways and means to filter the water of Manchhar Lake which has been polluted with the flow of affluent and brackish water drains from crops. “I have to rehabilitate the fishermen of Manchhar Lake,” he said and added “I am keen to resolve the issues of fishermen of Karachi because they are the ‘jialas’ of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto”.
The CM announced scheme of three floating jetties and passenger sheds will be executed by the local government department, and directed LG Minister Nasir Shah to start work on the scheme and complete it by the end of this year.
Shah said that he has also approved Rs.600 million schemes of drainage, water supply, brick roads for twin Islands, Baba and Bhit, Shamspir and Saulehabad.
On the demand of the fishermen the chief minister vowed to consider installation of RO plant at Bhit.
The fishermen told the chief minister that the lease of their villages had expired, therefore they requested for a fresh lease. At this the chief minister directed the commissioner to get it done, if it has expired or issue a fresh one through the Board of Revenue.
The fishermen told the chief minister that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto had visited Bhit and had announced to establish a playground on the Island but that she could do so because soon after her government was removed. At this Murad Ali Shah said that the announcement for the playground was made by his great leader and her promise at any cost would be fulfilled.
The schemes he announced to construct include constructing brick roads in six union councils, UC-41 to UC 46 of DMC Kiamari for Rs.99.35 million; Improvement of water supply and installation of sewerage lines and paved blocks in UC-40 and UC-42 of DMC Kiamarti for Rs.140 million, construction of roads, drains work and paver blocks at UC-41 Bhit, Baba, Shamspir, Younisabad, Salehabad Islands for Rs.150 million; Laying Paver RCC Sewerage Pipe Lines and CC flooring and cleaning of Nullahs at UC-44, 55 and UC-46 for Rs.99.3 million; Lying of water supply Lines at PRC Tower Gold Line, M.A Jinnah Road, DMC Kiamari for Rs.99.1 million.
The chief minister said that he has planned to construct a bridge to connect all the Islands of DMC Kiamari with the main roads so that people could travel on vehicles. “This bridge is at the planning stage and Inshallah the plan would be materialized,” he assured.
The chief minister asked the fishermen if they were vaccinated- most of them replied in negative and said all the day long they remained busy in fishing, therefore they could not get them vaccinated. The CM directed commissioner Karachi Naveed Shaikh to arrange a vaccinated Unit in a Boat and keep the boat moving from one to other Island and vaccinate the entire eligible population. (PR)
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