By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has called for closer cooperation with the construction sector, describing its role as essential to the city’s development and economic growth.
The mayor made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), led by its chairman Hassan Bakhshi, where discussions focused on ongoing development projects, urban infrastructure, the construction sector and areas of mutual cooperation.
Mayor Wahab said the construction industry was a key driver of Pakistan’s economy, providing employment to millions of people. He added that the Sindh government and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) were working to improve the city’s infrastructure and civic services with the aim of developing Karachi into a modern metropolitan centre.
He said the KMC also planned to modernise the development model for informal settlements and stressed that cooperation from ABAD would be crucial to achieving that goal. He expressed hope that stronger public-private partnerships would help deliver better housing and improved basic services for residents.
Addressing the city’s traffic challenges, the mayor said congestion remained one of Karachi’s most pressing issues. He revealed that several initiatives were under way, including a proposal to build modern parking plazas to ease traffic flow and address parking shortages.
The ABAD delegation welcomed the KMC’s development initiatives and pledged its full support for efforts aimed at the city’s growth and improvement. The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Abrar Jaffer, Financial Adviser Gulzar Abro, senior KMC officials and members of the builders’ community.
