HYDERABAD, March 18: The Sindh Kutchi Abadis Authority has launched six low-cost housing schemes in the province on self-financing basis where 1,200 families are being provided shelter.

This was stated by the acting director-general of the Sindh Kutchi Abadis Authority, Ali Ahmad Lund, at a meeting at the Kutchi Abadi field office here on Saturday.

The meeting was told that to provide shelter to poor families, a scheme of ‘Sasti Basti’ had been introduced in 2001 on directives of the president.

At present, plots are being provided to homeless families in Kotri, Gharo, Thatta, Sukkur, Larkana and Jacobabad and efforts are being made to acquire land for low-cost schemes in Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Shikarpur. Thereafter, such schemes will be expanded up to taluka level in the entire province.

The director of the Hyderabad field office of the Sindh Kutchi Abadis Authority said 477 plots had been created in Sikandarabad, Kotri, where all utilities had been provided and ‘Sasti Basti’ at Mirbahar Mohalla, Gharo, had been completed.

He identified some problems in acquiring land in Makli and Hala where the cost of land, estimated by the Board of Revenue, was not affordable by poor families. He gave an assurance that the matter would be taken up at the proper forum for fixing a reasonable price of land.

He said lease rights had been given to 11,460 families in the province during the current year and Rs70 million had been recovered.

He said a scheme to upgrade and redevelop the existing kutchi abadis had also been prepared.

LUMHS: The controller of examinations of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, on Saturday announced the results of examinations of MD (paediatrics), MD (general medicines) and MS (general surgery).