ACCORDING to a document issued by the Zulfikarabad Development Authority in June 2012 titled Development of Zulfikarabad City as well as information available on the ZDA website, the following are the salient features of the project.

The authority was set up under the ZDA Act, 2010 of the Sindh Assembly. The new city will include four coastal talukas of Thatta district: Keti Bunder, Kharo Chhan, Shah Bunder and Jati, covering 64 dehs. It will be about 150 kilometres from Karachi.

Over 1.3 million acres of land have been earmarked for the project, of which around one million acres are “under tidal influence” and will have to be reclaimed. The ZDA claims this will stop sea intrusion, which has ravaged large parts of the Indus delta.

The ZDA says there will be no dislocation and that “locals will reap the benefits of developed infrastructure, connectivity and economic activities without fear of losing their ancestral places, lands, properties and social capital.”

A Zulfikarabad Special Economic Zone is being planned with Chinese help, which will contain manufacturing and industrial units. There will be a “special regulatory regime to ensure locals have the first right over jobs and opportunities”. Development of wind power projects and projects based on Thar coal is also on the cards.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.