HYDERABAD, April 1: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Friday directed the provincial secretary of town planning and public works and taluka nazim of Qasimabad to draw up a plan for development of a housing scheme within a year in accordance with sixth schedule of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001.

It passed the order on a petition filed by an advocate, Noorul Haq Qureshi, requesting the court to direct the respondents to take over Gulistan-i-Sajjad for development and maintenance and provide facilities to its residents as per notification of the Sindh government.

Provincial Additional Advocate-General Masood A. Noorani contended that a huge population lived in the Gulistan-i-Sajjad but it had not been developed so far, therefore, the court should issue directives for its development.

He quoted paragraphs 69, 70 and 71 of sixth schedule of the SLGO 2001 which specified responsibility of a local government to draw up a plan for development and improvement of an area within its administrative control.

The counsels for both the parties expressed ignorance about a development plan of Gulistan-i-Sajjad.

The AAG also supported the petitioner’s contention that no roads, streets, drains and utility services had been developed in the housing scheme.

The court directed the secretary and nazim to draw up the development plan within a year and execute it within a reasonable period.