Murad chairing SIFC meeting decides to upgrade tourist sites, improve breeds at cattle farms in PPP mode.
Irfan Ali
Murad chairing SIFC meeting decides to upgrade
tourist sites, improve breeds at cattle farms in PPP mode.
KARACHI Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah
presiding over a meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC)
discussed Green Pakistan Initiative projects to be launched on PPP mode to
develop tourism sites, promote safari desert, develop agricultural and
livestock farms.
The meeting was held at CM House and was
attended by provincial ministers - Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Haji Ali Hassan
Zardari, Zulfiqar Shah, Dost Ali Rahimoo acting chief Secretary Musadiq Ahmad,
PSCM Agha Wasif, Chairman P&D Najam Shah, SMBR Baqaullah Unar, provincial
secretaries, Major General Muhammad Hussain of PCIC, Brig Zile Hasnain of 5
Corps and others.The meeting discussed and decided on some proposals as
follows:Tourism Development: The meeting discussed the development
of Keenjhar Lake, Haleji Lake, Hawks Bay and Gorakh Hill Resorts as
world-class tourist sites in Public-public-private partnership. The agreement
between Keenjhar Lake Sindh Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) and the
irrigation dept for running the Lake as a tourist spot was pending since 2006
and needed to be renewed so that further action could be initiated.
The CM issued directives to the Irrigation
& Culture dept to execute their agreement. The meeting discussed a
proposal to develop new Tourism Sites at Parchi Javeri and Nagarparkar. The
chief minister directed Minister Culture & Tourism Zulfiqar Shah to study
the proposal and file his recommendations. The CM was told that a six km
road from Karachi—Thatta to Haliji Lake was dilapidated. The CM said that the
road must be reconstructed for which he directed the Works & Services department
to start reconstruction work. The meeting agreed that Desert Safari may be
incentivised by launching special trains and offering different packages to
attract visitors and participants. Mr Shah sought proposals for improving
desert safari activities.
A proposal also came under discussion for the
establishment/raising of the Sindh Tourism Police. The CM directed the Culture
& Tourism dept to submit its proposal for raising separate police along
with their assignment, including reporting to the CM for further necessary
action.
Wild Olive Grafting at Gorakh Hill: The
meeting discussed the proposal to graft the wild olives at Gorakh Hill on the
PPP model. The private party would plant and grow wild Olives for oil
extraction on a commercial basis.
The CM directed the Agriculture and Public
Private Partnership departments to suggest an agreement for private parties so
that the project could be taken up.
The chief minister was told that the road to
Gorakh Hill Station was in poor condition due to recent heavy rains. The CM
directed the Works & Service department to repair/reconstruct the road.
It was pointed out that a proposal for the
construction of an expressway from Karachi to Dadu was under consideration
which would connect Balochistan and various cities and towns of the province
through intersections. The chief minister said that the Gorakh Hill Master
Plan has been approved and ordered the release of allocated funds.
On the pointation of Minister for P&D
Nasir Shah, the CM directed the acting chief secretary to post a good offer as
the new DG Gorakh Hill to implement the proposed development
initiative.Corporate Agriculture Farming: The meeting discussed the
proposal of corporate farming to engage international companies in the PPP
mode.
The Irrigation dept proposed CC lining of the
lower Nara Canal for stopping water seepage. The CM directed the Irrigation
dept to submit their proposals for lining the canal.Fisheries & Livestock
Projects: They discussed facilitating private parties (PPP mode) to
establish shrimp farms/ hatcheries along the coastal highway of Sindh.
The CM
directed the Fisheries dept to submit business models for further action.The
meeting also discussed outsourcing the provincial government’s cattle
farms at Rohri, Umerkot and Naukot. The private parties would invest in and
improve cattle breeds for milk and meat as private partners of the provincial
government.
