KARACHI, June 12: Sindh Minister for Local Government, Katchi Abadis and Spatial Development Mohammad Hussain Khan has directed the officials concerned to introduce residential projects for the homeless in different parts of the province.

While presiding over a meeting of local government department officials at his office on Tuesday, he said that plots at cheaper rates should be provided to those who could not afford to give heavy advance payments and house rents.

On the pattern of Khuda Ki Basti, he said, a piece of land should be allocated for the residential project where people could build their houses with a sense of ownership.

Mohammad Hussain said the housing wing would also be directed to prepare a comprehensive plan in this regard.

He directed the officials to take action against construction of high-rise buildings across the province.

Asking officials of his department to hold their responsibilities with honesty and dedication, he said that neither corrupt employees would be spared nor postings on the basis of nepotism be tolerated

After physical verification, he said, 600 officials and employees of rural development department presently in surplus pool would be merged in local government commission, monitoring and evaluation cell and public health engineering departments.

A master plan of all talukas in the province should be chalked out so that comprehensive data of available infrastructure and required facilities could be prepared, he said, adding that Town Officers (Planning) would be appointed in all talukas and towns on contract basis.

He also called for activating local government support officers in all districts because the coordination between talukas and districts was ineffective. Strong coordination between them could be created if local government support officers be assigned responsibilities in this regard and their capabilities could also be utilised for settling issue like HESCO dues and pensions, he said.