15 January 2005	Saturday	04 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Jan 14: To the utter surprise of many of those present at a ceremony held on Friday evening to award lease of their dwellings in katchi abadis , city government officials disclosed that only 11,000 out of around 97,000 units in katchi abadis had, so far, applied for the granting of lease.

The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, also looked perturbed over the cool response from the dwellers. The process of lease grant at nominal rates to the dwellers of 278 notified katchi abadis falling in the jurisdiction of the city district government had begun almost two months back but about 90 per cent of the dwellers have shown least interest in the otherwise excellent offer.

The nazim, who was chief guest at the ceremony, strongly advised the occupants of the residential units in the katchi abadis not to waste time anymore in getting the proprietary rights of their dwellings.

He told them to avail the opportunity before any possible move that could result in an increase in the lease rates or a halt to the whole process. He said that the number of applications received till date for the grant of the ownership rights appeared to be much less than he was expecting.

He pointed out that the offer was thought to be even more attractive for those living in the unauthorized dwellings as the city government had offered to regularize them on payment of an amount fixed about 15 years back, i.e. in 1989, instead of the rates revised in 1991.

He hoped that the dwellers of the notified katchi abadis, which fell in the jurisdiction of the city district government Karachi would rush to avail the opportunity.

According to official sources, a minimum of Rs25 per square yards is being charged from those having residential units; a maximum of Rs300 is being charged from those having commercial and industrial concerns; and only Re1 per square yards has been fixed for the lease of religious places, such as a mosque, Imambargah, church, temple, etc.

Later, the nazim awarded lease documents to 150 dwellers of the katchi abadis located in Baldia, Orangi, Korangi, Saddar, Jamshed and Keamari towns. Of the total 538 notified katchi abadis, 278 fall under the jurisdiction of the CDGK's Katchi Abadis Department whereas the remaining 260 are located in the limits of the Sindh Katchi Abadis Authority.

Naib Nazim Tariq Hassan and City Council's Senior Presiding Officer Muslim Pervez were present on the occasion. Pedestrian bridges: Niamatullah Khan on Friday laid the foundation stone of three pedestrian bridges at Nazimabad No 2, Liaquatabad Town, and opposite to the Farooq Azam Mosque and Gold Gate in North Nazimabad Town, add agencies.

The bridges will cost Rs7.5 million each, and will be constructed on built, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. He informed the gathering that 16 city roads were under construction, and construction of flyovers at Hassan Square and Sohrab Goth would also be undertaken by the city government.

The nazim said that 28 pedestrian bridges would be constructed in the city on BOT basis, and work on Gharibabad and FTC flyovers would start soon, adding that Karachi was on the way to becoming a model city.

ROAD WORK: City Nazim Naimatullah Khan on Friday issued directive to the city government's works and services department to expedite the pace of ongoing road-construction work in the metropolis.

He issued the directive during a surprise visit to Rashid Minhas Road to review the pace and quality of work, besides alternative traffic arrangements. He directed the officials concerned that the section of the road in front of Aladin Park be completed before Eidul Azha to save the people from any hardship.

Mr Khan was informed that at present carpeting work on 1.5-Km section of the road was being carried out, and on its completion before Eid, the remaining 1.5-Km section would be carpeted within two months. As per the plan, the road is being widened by 10 feet, besides construction of a service road, which will reduce traffic pressure there.