KARACHI: Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Sunday said that after Mehmoodabad nullah more stormwater drains would be cleared of encroachments.

He said residents of demolished houses would be provided house rent for two years and the provincial government was planning a housing scheme where the affected families would be given priority.

“All stakeholders are on same page regarding removal of encroachments,” the minister said while visiting Mahmoodabad-Manzoor Colony nullah.

He said that large-sized encroachments, including houses would be removed from Mehmoodabad nullah from Monday (today).

City administrator Laeeq Ahmed, former UC chairman Farhan Ghani, Karamullah Waqasi, Sardar Nazakat Ali and departmental heads of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation were also accompanying him.

The LG minister said that the administrator and DMCs were tasked with uplifting the infrastructure.

Housing scheme planned for evicted families of Mehmoodabad

He said roads would be built on both sides of the nullah after removal of more encroachments.

The minister said that the people residing along the drains faced threat to their lives. He said they were taking measures to ensure draining of rainwater in monsoon season.

Mr Shah said that the NED University had undertaken a study and provided consultancy on the Mehmoodabad, Gujjar and other nullahs.

He said that the provincial government had signed a contract with the World Bank through which encroachment had to be removed and this operation was in continuity of it.

He said that in pursuance of Supreme Court’s directives, the anti-encroachment campaign was launched and it was going on smoothly. He recalled that encroachers had earlier obtained a stay order from lower courts.

He said that the city administrator was empowered to cancel illegal leases.

The minister said that the local government in the past had passed unnecessary schemes as the KMC had already been facing a financial crisis.

He said now on those schemes would be executed which would benefit the public.

The LG minister said that the relevant mechanism was made transparent and now government taxes were being deposited in its own account.

He said that Pakistan Peoples Party-led Sindh government was carrying out development works without any discrimination. He pointed out that works were being carried out in those areas where the PPP did not have representation.

He said that the provincial government was not happy over demolition of people’s houses but it had to do that.

He also thanked the federal government for providing fire engines to KMC’s fire brigade.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2021