ON June 28, 1976, as extensively reported by the media on June 29, a record budget of Rs76.85 crore was approved by the Karachi Development Authority’s (KDA) governing body for the financial year 1976-77. There was an increase of more than 50 per cent in the overall activities of the authority compared to the previous year’s allocation of Rs49.53 crore; and it was almost seven times bigger than the budget estimates of 1971-72, which was Rs11.43 crore. For the fiscal year 1976-77, importance had been given to the work on the third phase of the Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply scheme for which an amount of Rs31.03 crore was earmarked. It was done to give an impetus to the progress of the third phase that was being attempted to be completed before the scheduled date of June 1978. This meant that the completion of the scheme would allow an additional supply of 70 million gallons of water on a daily basis to the city. Apart from that, the KDA was to spent Rs7.8m for tanker supply to far-flung areas — so tankers operated even half a century back, too! Then Rs17.50 crore were to be used for the development of the authority’s various projects and schemes such as those in Kahkashan, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Korangi, North Karachi and metrovilles at SITE, Landhi and Qasba townships. Work on the first metroville at SITE was in full swing. Also, in Korangi township, the KDA was developing a sector for Pakistanis living abroad. The sector had been named Mehran Town and was expected to meet the demand for open plots in a short time period.

Continuing with the theme of advancement, on July 1, the Provincial Local Bodies Minister, Jam Sadiq Ali, told members of the Sindh Assembly during a question-answer session that the plan for building 10,000 flats in Jacob Lines would be speedily implemented to fulfil the assurance given in that connection by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He denied the reports that the scheme was being recast or delayed on any ground. The minister said a construction company had already built 475 flats in Jacob Lines. He also placed on the table of the house details of terms and conditions for disposal of those flats. Replying to a question put by an MPA, Mr Ali said there were 622 construction companies registered with the KDA.

While goals were being set for the city by the KDA and provincial authorities, on June 30, an honourable guest came to the Sindh capital. Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, head of the Bohra community, arrived in Karachi on a two-week official visit to Pakistan. As soon as he alighted from the aircraft, he was cheered by his followers who had gathered at the airport in a big number. He was received, among others, by the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, G S Kehar, Sindh ministers Pyarali Allana and Abdullah Baloch. During his stay in the country, Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin was to address his followers for which a number of events had been arranged.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2026