KARACHI, April 10: A survey of Keamari Town shows that 70 per cent of its population lives in katchi abadis and a big majority of the people depends on the port and fish harbour for their livelihood. Because of the country’s major economic installations, the sea port, Customs House, fish harbour, etc., that are located within its limits, this town has been of historic importance. Besides, it has attractive picnic spots along the city’s coastline. These spots are frequented by hundreds of thousands of people annually. The town’s landscape covers three islands — Shamspir, Baba and Bhit –- besides major economic, administrative, military and trading facilities like KPT, shipyard, West Wharf, Manora Cantonment Board, PAF bases (Masroor, Qasim, Rehbar and Himalaya), PNSC, PIDC, ICI and Old Kanupp power house.

Several key arteries like Mai Kulachi Road, M.T. Khan Road, Mauripur Road, part of the vital M. A. Jinnah Road, considerably big portions of the Northern Bypass and Lyari Expressway also pass through the town’s limits.

Despite being the nerve centre of this metropolis, as well as the country, a big majority of the town’s population lives in katchi abadis, coastal villages and remote areas. Most of the very old localities have not been regularized in the areas like Shershah, Muwachh Goth, Mohammadi Colony, Sikandarabad, Intelligence Colony, etc., where municipal services are badly needed.

According to the Town Nazim, Zulfikar Yunis, regularization of the katchi abadis, making 70 per cent of the town’s population, is the pressing issue which had to be considered.

He said that although ‘sanads’ (property ownership documents) had been issued to the entitled villagers under the Sindh Goth Abad Scheme, the documents were not being recognized by courts and banks. Consequently, such villagers could neither obtain any loan for house construction, nor could they mortgage their property.

He stressed the need for issuing proper lease documents to the villagers and people residing in the remote areas so that they could construct their houses.

The nazim said he had brought the matter to the notice of the city nazim and other relevant authorities, but received no proper response. He admitted that land-grabbing was a flourishing business in the town and should be tackled urgently, but stressed that a decision should also be taken on the administrative control of the land. He regretted that there was no coordination among the land control agencies. Unless this issue is resolved, no one could stop the land-grabbing, according to him.

Discussing the KPT’s role in the development the town, the nazim cited the role of the Fishermen Cooperative Society and the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority, and observed that despite being financially weaker than KPT, the contribution of FCS and KFHA to the public welfare in the town could not be ignored.