Karachi sets out on $13 billion plan to renew city’s outworn infrastructure
As the commercial hub and gateway of Pakistan, Karachi, capital of Sindh Province, accounts for 95 per cent of Pakistan’s foreign trade and 30 per cent of its industrial production.
But while the economy and population of Karachi have expanded significantly, little investment has been made in the city’s urban infrastructure over the past two decades, resulting in haphazard development, a polluted urban environment and for many a poor quality of life.
Inadequate and unreliable infrastructure and services are adding to business and household costs, harming the city’s urban and natural environment and decreasing its global competitiveness compared with other Asian megacities, says Gulfer Cezayirli, an urban development specialist with the Asian Development Bank.
The Bank has provided this commentary as background to its decision to agree a $10 million loan for the city district government of Karachi. The influx of new finance will assist municipal administrations and utilities in the task of improving city management and financing as well as applying commercial principles in the provision of infrastructure and services.
The Bank says it will help in the preparation of projects to expand the city’s infrastructure and services being funded over the next four years. Priority is being given to water supplies, sewerage and drainage, solid waste management, roads and transport, and upgrading of ‘informal settlements’.
The project also establishes an innovative financing vehicle which will channel development funds to the city, acting as a catalyst for reform and mobilising funds from non-government sources for large-scale capital investment needs. In other words, a measure of privatisation is to be introduced to the city’s economy.
This was confirmed when Ms. Cezayirli spoke of increasing recognition of the growing gap between demand and supply in the urban infrastructure that cannot be met through traditional government sources – a phenomenon common enough in megacities around the world.
Therefore, “alternative sources of financing and new ways of providing infrastructure are required.”
Full Version: Karachi Sets Out On $13 Billion Plan To Renew Cit
any link
QUOTE(omarleeds @ Feb 11 2006, 04:45 AM)
Karachi sets out on $13 billion plan to renew city’s outworn infrastructure
As the commercial hub and gateway of Pakistan, Karachi, capital of Sindh Province, accounts for 95 per cent of Pakistan’s foreign trade and 30 per cent of its industrial production.
But while the economy and population of Karachi have expanded significantly, little investment has been made in the city’s urban infrastructure over the past two decades, resulting in haphazard development, a polluted urban environment and for many a poor quality of life.
Inadequate and unreliable infrastructure and services are adding to business and household costs, harming the city’s urban and natural environment and decreasing its global competitiveness compared with other Asian megacities, says Gulfer Cezayirli, an urban development specialist with the Asian Development Bank.
The Bank has provided this commentary as background to its decision to agree a $10 million loan for the city district government of Karachi. The influx of new finance will assist municipal administrations and utilities in the task of improving city management and financing as well as applying commercial principles in the provision of infrastructure and services.
The Bank says it will help in the preparation of projects to expand the city’s infrastructure and services being funded over the next four years. Priority is being given to water supplies, sewerage and drainage, solid waste management, roads and transport, and upgrading of ‘informal settlements’.
The project also establishes an innovative financing vehicle which will channel development funds to the city, acting as a catalyst for reform and mobilising funds from non-government sources for large-scale capital investment needs. In other words, a measure of privatisation is to be introduced to the city’s economy.
This was confirmed when Ms. Cezayirli spoke of increasing recognition of the growing gap between demand and supply in the urban infrastructure that cannot be met through traditional government sources – a phenomenon common enough in megacities around the world.
Therefore, “alternative sources of financing and new ways of providing infrastructure are required.”
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As the commercial hub and gateway of Pakistan, Karachi, capital of Sindh Province, accounts for 95 per cent of Pakistan’s foreign trade and 30 per cent of its industrial production.
But while the economy and population of Karachi have expanded significantly, little investment has been made in the city’s urban infrastructure over the past two decades, resulting in haphazard development, a polluted urban environment and for many a poor quality of life.
Inadequate and unreliable infrastructure and services are adding to business and household costs, harming the city’s urban and natural environment and decreasing its global competitiveness compared with other Asian megacities, says Gulfer Cezayirli, an urban development specialist with the Asian Development Bank.
The Bank has provided this commentary as background to its decision to agree a $10 million loan for the city district government of Karachi. The influx of new finance will assist municipal administrations and utilities in the task of improving city management and financing as well as applying commercial principles in the provision of infrastructure and services.
The Bank says it will help in the preparation of projects to expand the city’s infrastructure and services being funded over the next four years. Priority is being given to water supplies, sewerage and drainage, solid waste management, roads and transport, and upgrading of ‘informal settlements’.
The project also establishes an innovative financing vehicle which will channel development funds to the city, acting as a catalyst for reform and mobilising funds from non-government sources for large-scale capital investment needs. In other words, a measure of privatisation is to be introduced to the city’s economy.
This was confirmed when Ms. Cezayirli spoke of increasing recognition of the growing gap between demand and supply in the urban infrastructure that cannot be met through traditional government sources – a phenomenon common enough in megacities around the world.
Therefore, “alternative sources of financing and new ways of providing infrastructure are required.”
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it didnt say $13Billion anywhere!
its 13 billion rupees 
That's about $100m. Nothing major at all.
Enough to clean up some of the mess though.
i think what is seriously needed is to have the guttering system in the majour cities like krachi, lahore, islamabad/rawalpindi and others to be upgraded seriously because they cant handle the growing population of the cities.
First they need to physically clean the trash off the city; at least give it some dignity. Then over the long-term start retrofitting, upgrading or even replacing infrastructure; it takes a lot of time and critical planning to improve a city like Karachi.
QUOTE(applepie @ Feb 11 2006, 03:17 PM)
That's about $100m. Nothing major at all.
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$100 million dollar is not major? are you high?
At a national level, $100m is pennies.
In city of 13m people, $100 isnt even worth talking about.
In city of 13m people, $100 isnt even worth talking about.
Well as the chinese proverb says : Every journey starts with a small step. I think Pakistan has just started on its urban upgrade schemes throughout the country.
As long as they keep them consistent, transparent and freqeunt....I see no reason why pakistan shouldn't develop world class cities in the coming years.
As long as they keep them consistent, transparent and freqeunt....I see no reason why pakistan shouldn't develop world class cities in the coming years.
QUOTE(applepie @ Feb 11 2006, 03:17 PM)
That's about $100m. Nothing major at all.
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according to my conversion, 13 billion rupees = $216 million , please redo your math
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