KARACHI, July 1: The Sindh government has mooted a proposal to develop 325 acres of federal land in Karachi, on which the government had constructed about 3,000 quarters just after 1947, into a modern residential area, with ground-plus-three apartments, playgrounds, parks and commercial complexes.

Sindh minister for planning and development Syed Shoib Bokhari has suggested to the federal housing and development minister Syed Safwanullah, to consider conversion of “slum localities”, situated between the Business Recorder Road, Bhadur Yar Jung Road, Martin Road and Jehnagir Road, into a modern residential area with apartments at affordable prices, for the people living in these dilapidated quarters.

These localities are, Jehangir East Quarters, Clayton Quarters, Martin Quarters, Jehangir West Quarters, Baluch Para, Patel Para, Usmania Muhajir Colony and Bihar Colony.

These quarters are built on 80square yards to 100square yards and no maintenance work has been carried out for more than two decades, whereas sewerage system has virtually collapsed and water supply needs major repair work.

Mr Bokhari has proposed construction of four-storey apartments, each block to have sixteen apartments and each apartment having a covered area of 1,200square feet.

To begin with, he has suggested construction of apartments on the open spaces available in the localities. On completion of one block, the dwellers can be shifted to the newly-constructed apartments. These quarters can be demolished to create space for construction of new blocks of apartments.

The minister expressed hope that if residents of the quarter area were assured of ownership rights of a comfortable apartment, with provision of water, sewerage system and electricity, they would feel no hesitation in paying 60 per cent of the cost.

The remaining 40 per cent cost of the project can be recovered by creating commercial areas, the minister opined.