KARACHI, June 14: The KBCA has set up a committee to prepare a master plan for high-rise buildings with 20 and more storeys to be allowed or constructed all along the coastal line of Clifton, Chief Controller of Buildings, Brig (Retd) A S Nasir told a news conference on Tuesday.

He said with a view to allowing construction of above 20 storied buildings in the coastal areas of Clifton, floor area ratio which, at present, is 1:5 was being increased to 1:9 and for which a summary had already been moved to the Sindh government and the chief minister’s advisor on local government, Wasim Akhtar, is likely to issue a notification in this regard.

The KBCA chief was briefing newsmen about the proposed high-rise buildings to be built along the coastal line of Clifton’s blocks 2, 3 and 4, his concept plan for setting up most modern towns on either sides of Northern Bypass and textile and cottage industries under Malir and Lyari development projects.

President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Khalid Firoz, a number of builders and senior officials of the KBCA were also present.

Speaking about the proposed high rise buildings to be allowed in the coastal area of Clifton, Brig Nasir said since the coastal area has no water, its infrastructure is missing and is without adequate services, builders consortium would be required to install desalination and sewage treatment plants and generators in each block.

About his plan four model towns proposed to be established on either side, he said a 46 kilometre long road which will be generally below Northern Bypass (starting from Hub River Road) and in the North up to Northern limits of Sindh/Dadu, and it would be provided with high standard infrastructure, most modern facilities and a number of recreational spots, etc.

Elaborating, he said the proposed towns which have initially been named as China Town, Makhtoum Town, Faisal Town and Mahatir Town will have an international airport, a diplomatic enclave, lake and dam on Hub river, national safari park, service and administration area, civic centre for administration and project office, police headquarters, an educational complex, a five-star hotel, jurist enclave, journalist colony, middle-income group apartments, international trade banking, Expo complex, Olympics and sports complex, industrial area, low-cost workers scheme, TV and Communication Centre, Institute of arts and crafts exhibition hall, central bus stand, bus terminals, fruit and vegetables and grain market and storage, national mosque and graveyards.

Expressing his gratitude to Sindh governor Dr Ishratul Ibad for evincing keen interest and appreciating his concept plan of model town, he underscored the need for setting up an authority with an executive board for monitoring and implementing the proposed concept of the proposed towns through a provincial government notification.

Asked how many families could be accommodated in the proposed model towns, he said that around 100,000 families could reside there in the most enviable environment to be provided in the towns.

He said that besides the proposed model towns, the KBCA has also proposed setting up of textile city and cottage industries under Malir and Lyari development projects, saying that the proposed textile city would attract foreign investment.

Referring to the KBCA’s plan of organising a three-day international housing industry exhibition (from July 29 to 31) at Expo Centre, Brig Nasir said that he has requested prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, to inaugurate the same.