LAHORE: The West Pakistan Cabinet at a meeting held today [Aug 17] under the chairmanship of Governor Mohammad Musa decided that State lands in urban areas of Karachi should be disposed of through public auction.

The decision, however, exempts co-operative housing societies, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, sanctioned industries, university and diplomatic missions in whose cases land may be sold through private negotiation with the Government.

Releasing details of the decision at a briefing conference, a spokesman of the Provincial Government said that under the new policy approved by the Governor, Karachi has been divided into two zones — (1) Urban Area which may extend from fifteen to twenty miles and (2) Rural Area which will be beyond this limit.

In the urban area all State lands would be disposed of through public auction except in cases of co-operative housing societies and diplomatic missions etc. Under the decision no fresh lease of State lands shall be granted for agricultural purposes within the new urban limits. Similarly, there will be no conversion of existing leases for agricultural purposes. Lease for petrol pump site, however, may be granted by auction .

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2018