KARACHI, Feb 6: Sindh Minister for Local Government Mohammad Hussain has directed the Sindh Katchi Abadis Authority (SKAA), City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Board of Revenue (BoR) to conduct joint survey of katchi abadis of the city to ascertain their status for lease.

He issued these directives at a meeting with Pakhtoon Action Committee at his office here on Tuesday. He said that katchi abadis established before 1985 were notified and had no lease problem.

Mr Hussain said that the government was fully aware of the problems of these katchi abadis and was trying to resolve the same. He said a proposal was under consideration to ban the sale of plots in katchi abadis after lease for five years to discourage land mafia.

He informed that construction of high-rises in katchi abadis was also under consideration. A team of the SKAA would soon visit Mumbai, Dhaka and Jakarta to learn from their experiences in transforming katchi abadis into model localities.

He issued directives for joint demarcation in the katchi abadis on railway's land, where NOC had been granted by railway authorities.

On complaints about demolition of houses in various localities, the minister ordered survey of such houses so as to resolve the issue.—APP