ARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the Sindh government to identify a million acres of land near the coast in Thatta district for the development of ‘Zulfikarabad’, in the memory of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
State Minster for Information Samsam Ali Bukhari made this announcement at a media briefing after the president’s meeting at Bilawal House. “Zulfikarabad will be the first city to be created after partition (i doubt the veracity of this statement … what about Jauharabad , Distt Khushab and Isalamabad ) . The proposed city would have the latest infrastructure and facilities like Dubai, Karachi and Islamabad,” Bukhari said, adding the land that would be used for the city’s development would be unproductive and barren.
“The president has directed that land identification be completed within weeks so that he could take the proposal to Chinese investors during his next visit to China,” he said.
Answering a question as to how the government would ensure that the proposed city would not be like the fateful Gwadar port project and the locals are given their due right, Bukhari said that the locals would get employment opportunities due to the development of the new city. He added that according to the constitution, a person could live and earn in any part of the country.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah were present at the meeting along with federal and provincial ministers, senior government officials and some architects from the private sector.
Expressions of Interest (EoI) would be invited from international consultants for giving the basic design concept of the new proposed city. The handout stated that the new city project was visualised by Zardari sometime back as the influx of national and international migrants in Karachi and Hyderabad has put tremendous pressure on the existing infrastructure and called for building a new city. As per the handout, according to the president, the whole concept is based on the philosophy of converting useless state land into a gold mine. The names of Jhimpir and Jhirk in Thatta district are on the cards as they offered a suitable location for the new city but it is for the provincial government to determine a suitable location, the handout stated.
Re: Zardari for setting up ‘Zulfikarabad : Goldmine on a million acres
i think ur concern are genuine. however i think this is a step in rite direction. it wud entail job opportunities for the ppl of sindh provided if u setup industrial zones in the proposed city.
Do you remember Islamabad New City Project in last PPP Govt?
It got cancelled due to massive corruption.
Last month supreme court cancelled New Murree Project as well.
This is my field. I have to reply.
Mr Zardari has asked for a new city not a commercial project. IT IS THE NEED OF TIME TO MAKE NEW CITIES.
Do you know 18000 kanal land was purchased by private investors for 'new city' and more than that was under process, That was a total private big project and that was good for public.
Re: Zardari for setting up ‘Zulfikarabad : Goldmine on a million acres
AP, when Islamabad New City was launched my father went to MCB bank with application and down payment. The bank manager said....Malik sahib, I recommend you NOT to purchase plot in Islamabad New City. It is total fraud. I must not say it officially but in personal capacity I don't want you loose hard earned money". He named Zardari behind it.
My father listened to him and I wasn't happy with father that time. I said we should have house in beautiful place as shown in magnificent prospectus. After 6 months, whole fraud came to surface and Islamabad New City was cancelled. Many people lost money (un-recovered). My father called bank manager and thanked him.
I believe developing new cities is NOT important when nation is suffering. No foreign direct investment, no reserves and thus no payments to electric companies, yet we begging world over for aid and IMF, highest prices of food now in Pakistan. we need industries to employ youth....revival of economy.... In new city projects all contractors will be awarded through close connections with ultimate share to one beneficiary. Have you seen the photo of Pakistan Steel Mills MD who was appointed by Zardari and sacked recently by PM. Just look at his face (eyes) you can access him.....go to Pak Steel Mills website and see yourself...
Almost all major appointments including Ambassadors are closest people to Zardari just to safeguard interests.
Re: Zardari for setting up ‘Zulfikarabad : Goldmine on a million acres
i wud 2nd anwer ................. the concept of building new cities is not bad.
mustan u r rite that we are in financial distress rite now but things are improving ............ however tranparency shud be ensured so that the nation can real benefit out of it.
but under the pretext that there wud be corruption in the project. it is unwise to stop the project.
country shud focus on long term project as well. as nawaz sharif did in the context of Motor way.............. and now around 3 to 4 crore ppl are getting direct benefit from that project. if u remeber govt had that time only 0.5 billion $ reserves............ now we are in much better condition.