February 20, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 12, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 19: Vested interests are eyeing two amenity plots measuring 4,000 and 2,000 square yards in a locality, KDA Overseas Pakistanis Bungalows, in Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block-16.

The two plots Z-12 and Z-6 were originally allotted more than 20 years ago for setting up a swimming pool and a children welfare centre or a pre-primary school, respectively, exclusively for the area residents.

However, both the amenity plots remained unutilised for more than 20 years. But now certain elements are striving hard to get the status of both the plots changed from amenity to commercial.

A boundary wall has already been erected around Plot No Z-12 (reserved for a swimming pool) while construction of a commercial school on the other plot (Z-6) is under way.

It would be instructive to mention here that the status of an amenity plot cannot be changed under any circumstances and under any law. The president of the KDA Overseas Pakistanis’ Bungalows Residents’ Welfare Association (OPBRWA), Dr Ahmed Ali, told Dawn that certain elements were struggling hard to get the status of Plot No Z-12 changed. While the other plot (Z-6), which the defunct KDA had allotted to an education society some 15 years ago for the establishment of a children welfare centre or pre-primary school had been reportedly handed over to the owner of a girls’ school in Gulistan-i-Jauhar Block-15, who was planning to establish a commercial school, he said.

Dr Ali recalled that about four years ago, Bahria Foundation had also shown interest in the establishment of a college on the plot in question.

He said that the foundation had sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the residents’ welfare association to undertake a survey for its plan. However, due to a stiff opposition from the area people the foundation’s plans failed to get materialized.

However, the education society’s act of handing over the possession of the plot to an individual for setting up a commercial school not only amounted to a sheer violation of the rules and regulations pertaining to an amenity plot but would also cause a colossal loss to the national exchequer as the society had got this plot allotted at nominal rates whereas its current open market value must be over Rs100 million, he said.

Dr Ali said that the recently held general body meeting of the OPBRWA had already unanimously resolved to approach the Gulshan Town nazim, the city government’s master plan group of offices, the KBCA and the cantonment board concerned with a request to help stop the construction of the commercial school on the said plot and to decide the matter in the interest of the residents and if the matter remained unresolved, the OPBRWA would be left with no choice but to take up the case in a court of law.