KARACHI, June 16: The Sindh Governor, Dr Ishratul Ibad, on Thursday directed officials of the provincial revenue department to initiate work on the housing scheme at Taisar Town for low-income shelter less families by July 1.

He asked them to expedite work without getting into procedural complications, as the government wanted to accomplish the task of providing residential facilities to the homeless on priority basis.

The governor was speaking at a meeting at the Governor’s House, which discussed the progress of work at Taisar and Gulzar-i-Hijri, Scheme 33 housing schemes.

The Adviser to Chief Minister on Local Government, Wasim Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Muhammad Salim Khan, DCO Karachi Fazalur Rehman, member Board of Revenue Khalid Mehmood Soomro and other officials attended the meeting.

Ibad asked officials of the revenue board and the city government to settle issues regarding land in 10 days, and stressed that these housing schemes should be synchronized with other towns planned along the Northern Bypass.

The meeting decided appointing a separate director for Scheme-33 to expedite work. Earlier, the EDO Revenue had been acting as the scheme’s project director. The governor directed setting up project offices at the site of these schemes besides ensuring removal of encroachments and providing the schemes with water and power.

DCO Fazalur Rehman told the governor that 300 acres of land had been cleared of encroachments in the first phase, and the second phase for the same had begun from June 9.

All encroachments from corridors, roads and government land would be removed during this phase, he said, adding that the third phase would begin by the end of next month.

Ibad directed the authorities to hand over land to the concerned departments and cooperative housing societies after clearing them of encroachments.

He also called upon such departments and societies to take appropriate steps for protecting their land, while calling for action against defaulting societies.

The governor was also apprised of progress regarding laying of water and power supply lines in the area.

He was told that obsolete lines needed replacement, which would need about Rs500 million.

He was further told that a plan had also been provided to concerned departments for electricity and gas.—PPI/APP